Petition calls on companies to use Australian bands and performers for on hold music

A grassroots campaign is calling for big business to support Australia's COVID-decimated music industry by using songs from local artists instead of royalty-free tunes for customers to listen to while on hold.

An online petition started by publicist and talent manager Karen Eck has already gathered more than 6,450 signatures. 

She said the idea came to her while being put on hold for more than seven hours by Qantas and having to listen to generic licence-free music. 

"I actually didn't have a problem with that but it was the 15-second snippet of the same instrumental on loop that literally drove me a little loopy," she told SBS News. 

She said being able to showcase and support local musicians by revamping how businesses use hold music would also improve the experience for customers.

"I think it's space that's wasted and we can be using it more effectively," she said.

"I’d love to be hearing more emerging and established artists on calls - who wouldn't? It sounds like a no-brainer!"

According to a survey by I Lost My Gig of almost 2,000 performing arts professionals, 28,000 gigs have been cancelled nationwide since 1 July this year, resulting in nearly $84 million in lost income.

Only one per cent of those surveyed had insurance to cover their losses, and well over half of respondents reported having to look for work outside the music industry.

Gigs, festivals and tours have been forcibly cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AAP

Jim Finn, from ARIA-winning electronic band Art vs Science, said surviving the cancellation of live gigs over the past 18 months has been tough, and the future remains uncertain.

"No one really knows what’s going to happen. As a live band, the majority of your income comes from playing live shows and if you can't play live shows then that makes it quite hard to make a living," he told SBS News.

He said the petition is a good idea and being featured on hold music would give musicians another platform to have their work acknowledged.

"That would be very helpful to any artists who are getting royalties from that music being played," he said.

"During COVID everyone is losing their gigs, they're not making any income from that, so having some royalties come in from their music being played on hold would be really beneficial."

The campaign has support from the Australasian Performing Right Association.

“We encourage the use of more local music across all mediums and channels and consumers, encouraging music on hold fees being shared to more Australian music creators," it said in a statement.

The federal government has come under criticism for not doing enough to support the arts sector during the pandemic.

Earlier this week, it announced Support Act, a charity for performers suffering hardship, would be given a $20 million funding boost.

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