In a time of great uncertainty, the community is starting to make hard decisions in order to limit as much as possible the spread of Covid-19 virus. The AMA committee has considered our options going forward as we have events planned that bring our members and the industry together over the coming months. We will keep members informed as this situation develops.

We have also observed decisive action taken by organisations such as the National Band Championships, Yamaha Music, the Grand Prix Corporation and others in cancelling meetings and events planned for now and in the coming months. Frankfurt Musikmesse and other major industry events around the globe have been cancelled or postponed.

No doubt many wholesalers have been planning events involving travel, and gathering people in close quarters. The chief medical officer has today recommended disallowing public gatherings of more than 500 people to the federal government.

Retailers are in the front line dealing with the public, and possibly extending their activities staging events and organising music lessons for hundreds of students.

Music products is a major employer in the music industry. The current situation is already impacting members on the human perspective, with Yamaha reporting a staff member going to isolation.

Managing your employees well is crucial in minimising the impact of the virus spreading.

For a comprehensive resource available for retailers from the ARA CLICK HERE

Reduce the Risk of Your Employees Contracting Coronavirus

There are several measures that employers can take in order to reduce the risk of their employees contracting coronavirus. These things include:

• Staying up to date with the latest updates as the situation continues to change. This information should be obtained from reputable sources like the Australian Government’s Department of Health or the World Health Organisation (WHO).
• Enforcing strict personal hygiene measures. This may include providing staff with the facilities required to do so, such as hospital-grade hand sanitiser and hand wash. Furthermore, staff should be advised to only cough into their elbows and regularly wipe down surfaces. Having hand sanitiser on retail counters in view of customers engenders confidence in the cleanliness of the store. Alcohol based wipes for instruments.
• Any staff who fit the above criteria for being at-risk to have contracted coronavirus, and anyone who is displaying symptoms – such as fever or breathing difficulty – should be advised to immediately seek medical attention or self-isolate until they have been cleared by a medical professional. If any employees are confirmed to have contracted COVID-19, they must self-isolate for 14 days.

If You Suspect An Employee Has Contracted Coronavirus

If you suspect a staff member has coronavirus you should immediately advise them to call (not visit) their GP or ring the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.

If one of your employees contracts COVID-19, they may be entitled to:

• Paid leave
• Annual leave or long-service leave

In accordance with the Fair Work Act, if an employee is confirmed to have coronavirus, employers may have the right to stand them down. In general, stand down periods are unpaid but, if applicable, employees may take paid leave.

Employees who are in isolation should alert their employer. Depending on the type of work, and provided the employee is well, they may want to discuss alternative arrangements such as working from home.

 Working from Home

Working remotely from home, may be a viable and even necessary option should employees be required to self-isolate. However it often requires negotiations between employers and employees regarding the resources employers will provide employees in order to provide them with suitable work conditions.

Once an agreement has been made, the conditions or work, responsibilities of the employer and responsibilities of the employee should all be documented in writing.

Working from Home Checklist

Following an agreement there are things to pay attention to regarding Work Health and Safety; the following link provides good information  CLICK HERE

Though the full impact of the COVID-19 situation is yet unknown, as it continues to develop it becomes increasingly likely that having employees work from home while self-isolating may be a key element to enable business and association operations.

Further Information

For further information:

• Call the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you require translating or interpreting services, call 131 450.
• Download the Department of Health’s Information for Employers Fact Sheet
• Visit http://www.health.gov.au/
• Review Safework Australia’s Advice for Persons Conducting a Business

We are in unchartered territory. We will stand ready to assist governments and others in distributing messages that concern small business and their employees. It is still early days they say and we will maintain a close eye on the official information sources.

May social distancing provide us with a renewed appreciation of being connected – we send our best wishes to all our members and know the music industry will pull together as always.

Note: This article is for general information and to draw attention to the issue and to resources that are available. For any specific matters seek expert/legal advice

A small group of Australian Guitar makers, Amp and Pedal Builders is donating the country´s best hand-made gear to support the Fireys. Every $10 AU donated gets a virtual raffle ticket to a number of prize pools that are evolving. The Raffles will be drawn shortly after the fundraiser closes. This effort has been initiated by Tim Lovell of Lovell Amps and Mark Quarrel of Kink Guitar Pedals with donations from many others. All funds raised will go to The Trustee for COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY & BRIGADES DONATIONS FUND. Support it if you can! The fundraiser deadline has been extended to February 14. DONATE HERE

In a magnanimous gesture, our friends at AMEB have offered support for musicians affected by the 2019/2020 Australian bushfires
The AMEB would like to help those teachers and students affected to rebuild their musical lives by replacing any AMEB publications lost due to the recent bushfires.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by Australia’s bushfire emergency and all those working tirelessly to protect our communities”.

The AMEB is calling for people affected get in touch and let them know which books are needed and where these books books should be sent. Please refer to the AMEB Online Shop for the full selection of AMEB publications available.

To make a claim please contact the AMEB Federal Office on 1300 725 709 or send an email to support@ameb.edu.au.

The NAMM Show had a large antipodean attendance in 2020 attending what was, as has been the case annually for a while now, the biggest show yet. NAMM’s importance as an international event is really reaching a zenith and the additional training aspects added for the broader music, sound and production industries has given the show a large dose of extra grunt in content and attendances. The professional development aspects grow in quality, with the Ideas Centre sharing great industry ideas and achievements to full houses. Logistically the show keeps improving with traffic in and out of exhibits with the creation of a an exhibits precinct, a big improvement.
A credit to the organising team, the NAMM Show is an amazing showcase to the music, sound and production industries.
The show highlights the advocacy efforts the NAMM Foundation as well as the international network that has developed. The AMA was represented at the ICC Meeting of countries by Anthony Ursino and Rob Walker, where the panel discussed issues such as sustainability, how to better engage in Make Music Day,
We also attended meetings with NAMM International and Government Affairs directors as well as president, Joe Lamond. The AMA also assisted in the development of the NAMM Oral History Library. Greg Phillips was all over the show shooting content for members too, and bringing the new release news first to Australia.
The Annual AMA reception was at capacity and enjoyed by all at the end of a long Friday.
Adelaide retailer Cecere’s Music was presented with a NAMM Milestone Award at a gala breakfast event, to highlight a year when Australia was very well represented.

Left: Andrew Collyer, Managing Director of Hal Leonard Australia at his first NAMM Show on the impressive Hal stand. Right: NAMM CEO Joe Lamond with Claudio and Joe Cecere after presenting a NAMM Milestone Award for the 50th Anniversary of Cecere’s Music in South Australia

Left:Anthony Ursino, Graham Hoskins & Michael Jago at the NAMM Reception Right: Neville and Linda Kitchen with Nashville based Aussie, Joe Robinson, whose signature Maton was released at NAMM

Left: NAMM CEO, Joe Lamond welcomes Andre Hine and Chris Green of Mannys, with Roger Clapton and Michael Jago to the now annual NAMM reception.
Right: Greg Aitken of Brass Music Specialists with colleague Bodhi Scott-Jones

Left: Glenn Haworth presents to a packed house at the NAMM Ideas Centre.
Right: Australis’ Adam Goglis with Chris Herring of Yamaha Music at the show reception

Left: AMA President, Yamaha’s Michael Shade with now Seattle based Brendan Callinan, CEO of Roland Cloud
Right: Nick Middleton Roland & Miles Jackson Cole Clark Guitars

Left: Nathan Biggin and Michael Sher Right:Kristjan Snorrason of Music Junction with Tim Fogarty and Yamaha’s Michael Gonthier

Members have been advised of the new regulations applying from November 29th regarding the trade in finished musical instruments containing rosewood. As announced earlier (full details here), after three years of industry lobbying the CITES meeting in Geneva in August voted in favour of allowing exemptions for trade and movement of finished musical instruments containing rosewood. Imports and exports of finished musical instruments, finished parts and finished accessories will no longer need a CITES permit. The exception applies to all species of dalbergia except Brazilian rosewood, which remains on CITES Appendix I.

Permits are not be required after 26 November, 2019. The Department of Energy and Environment have sent advice to stakeholders, and advised it has implemented the new processes.

Edward ‘Ted’ Middleton  (1944 – 2019)

Ted Middleton

The association was sad to learn of the passing of Ted Middleton on September 3rd. Ted was a very popular and well-respected member of the music products industry. Born in Scotland, raised in England, his parents were wartime entertainers who migrated to Australia. He formed the band, “The Boys”, who were moderately successful (supporting the Bee Gees and a few and other famous touring bands). He then owned and operated Bondi Music Headquarters for more than 15 years in the 80s and 90s before moving to Queensland in the late 90s. There, Ted worked representing many of the world’s leading brands and suppliers in that state. These Sydney Guitar Trader, Kurt Jacob and Co, Gibson Guitars – AMI, Casio, Syntec | Sennheiser , Intermusic IMD , HQ Agencies , Jet Music International and Maton for whom he worked for 20 years. He was most recently in business with his son Eddie where he was CFO of Jet Music. He loved playing guitar, cars, motorbikes and soccer, particularly Arsenal, and will always be remembered for his quick wit and sense of humour.

Ted was married to his wife Bronwyn for 43 years and had two kids; Katie and Eddie. We offer our condolences to the family and Ted’s close friends.

Ted Middleton and Tommy Emmanuel

It is with great sadness that we announce that our friend and colleague, Steve Lincoln Smith passed away on September 8 with his wife Julie by his side. He was 60 years old.

While his industry friends and colleagues knew he was crook, his passing has come as a surprise to many, and we offer our heartfelt  condolences to Julie and the family as well as his large circle of friends and admirers.

It was only in May that Steve was added to the AMA’s Honour Roll for his outstanding and long service to the music products industry.

Steve commenced employment in the music products industry at aged 17, retiring at 60 years of age. Over those 43 years he worked for Rose Music, Yamaha Australia, Yamaha Japan, Innovative Music, in Retail, Wholesale, as Importer, Sub-contractor, performed as Product Demonstrator, Product Specialist, International, Domestic, NAMM presenter, Session Musician, Producer, Music Director, Performer, Touring Artist, Jingle Writer,.

Steve was considered an innovator, and a champion of music technology in Australia.

Steve was a classically trained pianist with an appreciation of the full orchestral landscape including a keen knowledge of string arranging. His first temptation away from the classical world was for the sounds and texture of the Hammond Organ in combination with the Leslie Speaker but it was synthesisers with their many varied sounds and unlimited possibilities that changed his musical direction.

Steve described himself as really a “classical musician with a decided bent toward Rock, Soul, Jazz and Funk”.  It was this passion for using new musical tools that has allowed Steve the freedom to create works in almost any style. His knowledge and deep understanding of the technology behind the music is also key to his ability to shine above other players.

At one point in his musical career Steve was a sought after session musician working in the studio on major releases, some of the more well-known artists included John Farnham, The Little River Band, David Hirschfelder, Kids in the Kitchen, Dear Enemy, Alias Smith and Jones and James Morrison.

For many years Steve has been the Musical Director of a well-known Melbourne Advertising and Jingle production house while also building up a large music technology company, Innovative Music. With his wife and partner Julie they forged new paths for the industry and encouraged new genres of music to flourish in Australia.

Our music industry will be the poorer without him. As colleague and friend Tony Burn said today “A great man, musician and corporate citizen. A huge loss to the industry, let alone family and friends”.

Steve Receives his AMA Honour Roll Award in May 2019

A Memorial will be held from 2pm-5pm, Friday, September 20, at Leonda, 2 Wallen Road, Hawthorn VIC 3122.