BRISBANE NAMED ONE OF TOP FIVE WORLD MUSIC HOT SPOTS

Brisbane’s growing reputation as one of the top contemporary music cities in the world has been recognised by respected USA industry magazine Billboard.

“The recognition of Brisbane as a new world music ‘hot spot’ is well deserved and somewhat overdue,” Arts Minister, Rod Welford, said.

“It will add further impetus to the local industry which has spawned some of Australia’s biggest international artists including Savage Garden, Powderfinger and the Veronicas.

“Quite rightly, Billboard suggests that Brisbane has ”such a rich vein of talent that it is threatening Melbourne's traditional role as Australia's main music city”.

“I am delighted that Billboard has also noted that the live music scene, based around the Valley nightclub district, is really strong.”

The five cities named by Billboard as music ‘hot spots’ were Brisbane, Beijing, Birmingham, Marseilles and Berlin.

Mr Welford said the State Government’s ongoing support for music and the arts was helping to bring Brisbane alive as a new cultural venue.

“At South Bank, the new Art Gallery, State Library, Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Queensland Museum have given the city a world class cultural precinct,” he said.

“We are continuing to use project grants to support great new talent such as Kate Miller-Heidke to produce her debut EP and The Butterfly Effect to secure licensing and distribution contracts.

“We also support Q-Music, an industry advocacy and development body providing skills training, support and export development.

“For the third consecutive year, we will support three Queensland artists to showcase at Musexpo in Los Angeles in April, to help them reach the international market.

“This year’s participants will be announced soon.”

Media contact: Greg Milne on 32371000