The AMA is Supporting efforts to persuade the Minister & the CMO that group tuition in singing and brass & woodwind can proceed with COVID safe processes. The AMA, has written to the Minister for Education on behalf of our members and the broader music education community to express our deep concern regarding the sudden and blanket prohibition of brass and woodwind instruments and singing in schools as outlined in the Schools Operation Guide communicated on 4 October 2020. A music education consultative group including the AMA seeks the opportunity to work with Health and Education Officials to implement COVID safe practices which protect our community in a return to holistic music making in our schools.

Members can read the AMA’s submission in support of Music in Schools AMA Letter of Support Covid Safe Schools

You can also listen to a teacher explaining their challenges on the ABC’s breakfast with Sammy J

READ MORE.

Damon McMahon

After 9 ½ years Damon McMahon who has headed the Casio Electronic Musical Instruments division since 2011 has resigned and is going to Madison AV in the pro audio sector.

“I’m joining the Pro A/V industry in a senior sales role involved with all things digital audio & video related. Whilst I’m looking forward to this fresh challenge, it has truly been a difficult decision”. Damon said.

“The music products industry is, for most members, a way of life. It’s anything but just “a job” or “just a business”. I leave a great business and an iconic brand which, in many ways, leads the categories in which it competes. But much more difficult is leaving wonderful colleagues and customers, many of whom have become life-long friends”.

“I think it fair to say we share a common passion in making music, which makes such a positive difference in people’s lives. This alone makes it pretty difficult for most of us to contemplate “should I do something else?”.

Damon’s departure will provide a senior sales role opportunity open up. Shriro’s General Manager Piers Halleen, advised that the role will be based in Sydney, and will be responsible for managing one of Casio EMI’s leading sales territories. The successful applicant will have a strong background in piano and keyboard categories and demonstrate a clear understanding of the sales process.

If you have the skills and desire, drop Piers a note @ casioemi@shriro.com.au

The Association wishes Damon all the best and extends its thanks and appreciation of his service on the executive committee in recent years.

In what was disappointing news for music retailers in Melbourne metro, the Premier announcement an extension to the current Stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions on September 6. A full summary is available at the DHHS website CLICK HERE

Music retail will continue to operate in most cases with their click and collect and home delivery services to serve the music making needs of the city. Most are likely to re-open their doors to customers after October 26 under the current restrictions announced.

As many had feared, it was with much sadness that overnight we received official news of the cancellation of the physical 2021 Winter NAMM Show.  However, in this morning’s video announcement NAMM CEO Joe Lamond asked the global music products industry to still come together in January for their virtual event Believe in Music Week.

“We’ve held off a long as we could but the reality is, there is no path forward at this time to bring our industry family together safely in Southern California at the NAMM Show,” said Joe Lamond.

“It’s hard to imagine isn’t it, it’s the first time not had a physical gathering in almost in 80 years and just like back then in times of trouble, the world has turned to music, the one thing everyone could believe in.”

“Today I would like to introduce Believe in Music Week, our global online gathering to unify and support the people that bring music to the world. This virtual event scheduled for our show dates in January will be fun, interactive and productive, using state of the art technology to connect us all… robust market place, to launch new products, share your brand story, ‘Believe in Music’ will also feature networking with AI facilitated match making for our buyers and our sellers… education for all our sectors of the industry and live music and concerts to raise awareness and financial support for our NAMM family, especially those in the live event and tour industry which has seen their world come to a halt with the global pandemic.”

“While in my opinion nothing can compare to the excitement of our global family reunion at the NAMM Show, this foray into the virtual world has been an exciting project and in some ways could bring new value to all involved .. pretty exciting and likely something we would not have jumped into had we not been forced to. We must all adapt and change I guess and why does that remind me of every NAMM U session from the past decade.”

“While we are not out of the pandemic woods yet and we will likely see more news before it is over, Believe in Music will be a critical step for our industry to help us prepare for the new year and new opportunities.”

“We’ll have much more to share in the coming days but in the meantime let’s ll do our best to take care of each other. Many have thought of the NAMM community as a global family and being there for each other is just what family do right? Especially in times like this. In a world filled with uncertainty there is one thing that we can believe in and that’s music and we believe in the future of music and we believe in the future of our industry and we look forward to seeing you in January.”

Our association with our media, Australian Musician online, looks forward to participating in, supporting and covering Believe in Music Week and bringing you the latest product releases, performances and other news that comes out of this exciting week. Standby for more Believe in Music Week news as it comes to hand.

It is with some disappointment that we announce that long-time AMA servant, Richard Snape, after departing Hal Leonard earlier this month has, as a result, stepped down from the executive committee. This paves the way for Hal Leonard’s managing director Andrew Collyer to be the nominated company representative. Richard had served on the executive committee for over a decade being first elected in 2007/2008. He also served as vice-president on three occasions. We wish him well in the future and thank him for his efforts on the industry’s behalf, while at the same time giving a warm welcome to Andy.

The association is notifying all members operating in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire that Stage 3 restrictions are due to be reinstated from 11.59pm on Wednesday, 8 July.

The state government has announced that to stop the spread of the COVID19 virus, Stage 3 “Stay at Home” restrictions will be reimposed for six weeks, restricting Victorians from leaving their homes except for four reasons:

• Shopping for food or essentials 
• Care and caregiving
• Work and education (if you can’t from home)
• Daily exercise

Businesses will also return to stage 3 restrictions, including work from home where possible.

Please find Premier’s statement with full details of what Stage 3 restrictions here.

Freight from Victoria will be permitted according to the permit structure being developed for border crossing by the NSW government, and freight and logistics from Melbourne metro will continue to operate as in the previous restrictions period. Freight companies will be obtaining permits to overcome the Victorian border issues – freight times may be extended as a result of this.

Most retail is permitted to open, including music retail, subject to the density quotient, but people can only visit for necessary goods and services. i.e. No browsing policy should apply.

Members should re-assert their previous Stage 3 restrictions planning regarding numbers in store, hand and other sanitation procedures including strict physical distancing in store, instrument and other products handling practices.

A summary of the Stage 3 restrictions can be accessed here 

Premier Daniel Andrews says the state government will soon announce additional fiscal stimulus for businesses and individuals as lockdown measures affect businesses, if federal help is not being accessed. The association will update members and assist as we go forward from here.

From a national perspective restrictions and regulations including border control are different from state to state. Courtesy of the Australian Retailers Association you can view a summary of each state and territories’ current regulations – click here

We Imagined Something Like This for Australia – WATCH THE SHORT VIDEO!

We did this last year CLICK HERE for the 2019 program CLICK HERE for a highlights video and lots of other info. And in 2020 we were getting closer to our objective and along comes COVID19. So,

In 2020 by necessity Make Music Day 2020 is Going Virtual

Make Music Day is a global celebration of music making that takes place on June 21 every year in over 1000 places in 120 countries. Unlike traditional music festivals Make Music Day is an open invitation for everyone to make music anywhere and anywhere and register their events, so that they are part of a giant global program. In this COVID19 Year we go online.

It is a DIY music festival. And Australia because of time zones can lead the world on June 21.
We’re encouraging any one and all to come up with innovative ways to make music online and share it from home or any place they can film themselves doing it. Register their performance on the website and add the Tags #makemusicdayoz and #makemusicday and we start the build of a giant database of music from around the world.

We had spent a year organising 2020 Make Music Day only to be stopped in our tracks like the rest of the music industry – but we can go online and that’s what our brothers (including the US, UK, Germany, China, Brazil, Italy, and others, ) in the global Make Music Alliance agreed. Let’s do it together.

We have CreateNSW right behind us to lead NSW in this endeavour, and many other councils and organisations all over Australia and we are calling on our Music Stores to get involved too. It’s been quiet in stores, use the isolation to create a music performance by you and/or your staff – filming themselves and posting – there’d be Australian Musicians all over the world, promoted and exposed. Australia can lead the global event.

In a 24-hour Make Music Day across the world, Australia is first in the program. We are reaching out to present a virtual Melbourne Guitar Show too on Make Music Day and promote Support Act.

And our overall activities are targeted at raising Support Act awareness.
With the NAMM Foundation’s support we have partnered with the Live Music Office and APRA/AMCOS to deliver the event nationally and partner in developing the event globally.

This is an event initiated by our music products industry – it is about anyone making music and being part of a huge global event.