The Live Events Industry launches #VAXTHENATION Campaign to help stop the interruptions. It’s time for real life!

The COVID-19 vaccine rollout is ramping up across the nation. Today, Australia’s $36.4 billion* Live Entertainment Industry is speaking out. 

No more virtual performances – it’s time for real life! 

More than 400 of Australia’s biggest artists and performers (see list below) have joined forces with leading tour promoters, music festivals, venues, ticketing agencies, record labels, comedy producers, theatre, opera and dance companies, media outlets, industry associations, peak bodies and global brands like YouTube and TikTok launch #VAXTHENATION – a new campaign asking Australians to help ‘stop the interruptions’ and get vaccinated… now!  

Spearheaded by the newly established LIVE Alliance (Live Industry Venues + Entertainment) – which includes representatives from organisations Association of Artist Managers (AAM), Australian Live Music Business Council (ALMBC), Australian Music Industry Network (AMIN), APRA AMCOS, Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), Australian Festivals Association (AFA), Frontier Touring/Mushroom Group, the Live Entertainment Industry Forum, Live Nation, Live Performance Australia (LPA), Secret Sounds and TEG – #VAXTHENATION has brought our country’s Live Events Industry together as never before.  

Lending their names to #VAXTHENATION are over 225 performers including Powderfinger, Jimmy Barnes, Tim Minchin, Courtney Barnett, Celeste Barber, Vance Joy, Paul Kelly, Archie Roach, Em Rusciano, Guy Sebastian, Dave Thornton, Adam Harvey, Amy Shark, Iva Davies, Gina Jeffreys, John Williamson, Courtney Act, Birds Of Tokyo, Tom Gleeson, Amyl & The Sniffers, Hilltop Hoods, Nazeem Hussain, Marcia Hines, Midnight Oil, Judith Lucy, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Christian Hull, Troy Cassar-Daley, Nina Las Vegas, Briggs, Judith Lucy, Daryl Braithwaite, Human Nature, Melinda Schneider and countless more. See below for the full list of organisations and artists supporting this incredible call-out. 

Artists aim to share and celebrate our common humanity. We miss sharing with our audiences. And we trust that audiences miss this connection too. Sadly, there’s more than music, high spirits and good vibes that we risk sharing if we get together in gig spaces. Let’s celebrate and share what is good and heart-warming in our common humanity. Let’s not share a virus. Please get vaccinated. – Boom Crash Opera

Thanks to the work of great scientists and an unprecedented sharing of information, we arrived at having a vaccine for this global pandemic sooner than expected. In that time, the music industry has been amongst the hardest hit industries. You can change that by getting the jab and allowing us to be together again because I’m sure you’d agree, nothing compares to the shared experiences of live music. – Diesel

At a time when so many people’s lives and livelihoods have been negatively affected, I’ve joined with many of my colleagues in music to ask everyone to get vaccinated. The State and Federal government target of 80% vaccination rate has been set as the point at which live music, theatre, dance and other events will be allowed to recommence. This is vital to the artists, technical crews, venues and all those who support the performing arts. It’s the way to start to join together again to celebrate Australian music, culture and one another’s company. Please, get vaccinated. – Iva Davies (ICEHOUSE)

Vaccines save lives and they’re incredibly safe. That’s why my family and I chose to get vaccinated as soon possible. – Jimmy Barnes

As a touring musician, a person with heart disease, and a strong advocate for mental health I believe that vaccination is the way forward for our country to live in freedom again. Be part of the solution. #VAXTHENATION – Jon Stevens

I’ve got my double jab certificate and I’m looking forward to performing again in front of fully vaxxed audiences. Let’s Jab then Let’s Rock! – Ross Wilson

#VAXTHENATION aims to remind all Australians of the magic of live events. It kicks off today with a national television campaign soundtracked by multi-Platinum ARIA winners Powderfinger, who donated the use of their iconic hit single “My Happiness”.

Launched under the guidance of advertising guru Russel Howcroft, the TVC was created by agencies Mushroom Creative House and Good One Creative. Says Howcroft:

“With an awesome idea generated by Good One Creative and the incredible creative direction and production capability of Mushroom, we have managed to pull together a powerful campaign via generosity of spirit and a burning desire to rock on. Huge thanks in particular to Powderfinger and the inspired leadership of the LIVE steering committee.” 

Australia has one of the world’s leading music and entertainment sectors. It’s not just vital to our economy and jobs; it provides a rich cultural fabric that connects us all. From sweaty pub gigs to crying with laughter at a comedy show; being moved by an opera aria or diving into the festival mosh; taking your child to their first live show, marvelling at an intricate ballet, or sitting with loved ones in an ornate theatre… these are the moments we all want to get back to.

Vaccination is the only way to ‘stop the interruptions’ and break the cycle of lockdowns.

With a target of 80% agreed by National Cabinet, the LIVE Alliance says vaccinations are not only important for overall public health but an essential step in stopping the ongoing and devastating effect to our live entertainment and events industry. LIVE Alliance members say:

“The impact of the pandemic on Australia’s world-leading music, theatre, comedy and live entertainment industries has been truly devastating. Getting vaccinated is the crucial step fans can take which will allow us to join together and enjoy the unbeatable magic of live performance once again.” 

Australia needs to get vaccinated, so we can all get back to doing the things that we love.  

The Live Entertainment Sector has been dealt a massive blow over the past 18 months, with thousands of performances disrupted, postponed or cancelled, and tens of thousands of workers stood down (or unable to work at all). Billions of dollars lost to the Australian economy – no shows means no fans spending at nearby restaurants, bars, retail or accommodation, or booking flights just to make a weekend of it. Prior to the most recent lockdowns, live music activity was at just 12 per cent of pre-COVID levels as larger shows and tours remain uneconomic without full venue capacities and uncertainty around both domestic and international border restrictions. Two thirds of industry jobs (79,000) were gone by the end of 2020*, plus $23.6 billion of economic output and $10.7 billion of added value also lost.

Help us stop the interruptions and get vaxxed as soon as you can. Every jab makes a difference, and every Australian can play their part. 

Let’s get our live industry back on the road!

Head to the #VAXTHENATION website for further details and information on where to get your jab: vaxthenation.com.au. 

*Live Entertainment Industry Report (2020)

#VAXTHENATION
vaxthenation.com.au
@vaxthenationau

#VAXTHENATION – ARTIST SUPPORTERS INCLUDE:

#VAXTHENATION – CAMPAIGN PARTNERS INCLUDE:

a day on the green
Ability
APRA AMCOS
Arts Central Melbourne
ASM Global
Australia Council for the Arts
Association of Artist Managers (AAM)
Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO)
Australian Festivals Association (AFA)
Australian Music Industry Network (AMIN)
Australasian Music Publishers’ Association Limited (AMPAL)
Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)
Beyond The Valley
Bluesfest
Cattleyard Promotions
Century Venues
Chugg Entertainment
CMC Rocks
COMEDY STORE
DanceWize
Digby Law
Enmore Theatre
Factory Theatre
Falls Festival
Festival X
For The Love
Frontier Touring
Fuzzy
Grapevine
Groovin The Moo
Handsome Tours
Hardware Group
Illusive Presents
Kobalt Music
Kicks Entertainment
Laneway
Live Nation Australia
Live Performance Australia (LPA)
Manning Bar (University Of Sydney)
Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA)
Metro Theatre
Mellen Events
Michael Cassel Group
MJR Presents
Moshtix
Mushroom Group
Music NT
Music SA
Music Tasmania
Music Victoria
MusicACT
MusicNSW
ONELOVE Music Group
Opera Australia
Palais Theatre
Perth Festival
Pitch
Playbill Group
Proxy
Q Music
RedHill Entertainment
Roundhouse Entertainment
Secret Sounds
Sony Music Australia and Sony Music Publishing
Spilt Milk
Splendour in the Grass
 SUN CYCLE
Super Special
TEG
TEG Dainty
TEG Live
TEG Van Egmond
The Annex
The Concourse
The Fortitude Music Hall
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival
The Sydney Opera House
Ticketek
Ticketmaster Australia
TikTok
UNIFIED Music Group
Universal Music Australia
 Untitled Group
Venue Management Australia (VMA)
Village Sounds
WAM
Warner Music Australia
Wildlands
YouTube Music
Zaccaria Concerts & Touring

#VAXTHENATION – CAMPAIGN SUPPORTERS INCLUDE:

AKA Australia/Anthem
AMPLIFIRE
ARNs iHeartRadio, KIIS and Gold Networks
AUM
Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR)
Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH)
Australian Live Music Business Council (ALMBC)
Australian Music Centre
Big Red Bash
Blue Max Music
Bolster
Bossy Music
Channel Seven
Cartel Management Australia
Collective Artists
Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA)
CrewCare
Daydream Nation
Drew Process
Eleven Music
EMC
Empire Touring
Endless Recordings
EMI Australia
Far Land Creative
Feld Entertainment
Five Four Entertainment
Foundation Theatres
Freedom Day Festival
Garma Festival NT
Global Cities After Dark
Good One
GWB Entertainment
Handshake MGMT
Heaps Gay
Hit Network
Hutch Collective
IMC Agency
I OH YOU
Isol Aid
Limelight
Live Music Office
Look Out Kid
Mardi Gras
Melbourne & Olympic Parks
Melbourne Recital Centre
Mirror Music Group
More Talent
MOTHERSHIP EVENTS
Mushroom Music Publishing
Music In Exile
National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island Music Office (NATSIMO)
New World Artists
Newtheatricals
Niche
Nightlife Music
NLV Records
NOVA Entertainment
NYE In the Park
Our Golden Friend
Oztix
Pavillion
Penny Drop
Point Blank Group
Poof Doof
Private Idaho Management
Rad Music Management
RISING
Remote Control
Scene & Heard
Select Music
Sounds Australia
Sound Merch
Spinning Top
Strawberry Fields
Supersonic
Support Act
The Australian Ballet
The Music
The Push
The Outback Music Group
The Triffid
Tiny Triumphs
This That
Token
Virgin Music
Warm Water
WME
Wonderlick Entertainment
Yours & Owls
Yaluk-ut Weelam Ngargee Festival