Musicians Australia

21/08/2026

Spotted at Mojo's Bar in Perth - MEAA President for Musicians in WA, Helen Tuckey, and MEAA member and Shadow Planet band leader Suraj Raja were out spreading the message about the power of collective action and the importance of joining your union. MEAA membership helps creative workers stand together for fair pay, secure work, and a stronger industry.

Join your union. Join MEAA. meaa.org/join

21/08/2026

The growing use of recorded music in ballet is part of a broader trend threatening live performance across Australia. Every time musicians are replaced by a soundtrack, audiences lose something irreplaceable and professional artists lose opportunities to work. Live music is not an optional extra. It's at the heart of the artistic relationship between music and dance. Support the fight to Keep Music Live.

https://meaa.io/4gmIH9K

20/08/2026

MEAA members welcome the announcement of the "10,000 Gigs: The Victorian Gig Fund" - aimed at helping venues host paid performances by Victoria musicians.

The fund allows licenced live music venues and other spaces to apply for funding of up to $11,000 to stage up to 20 gigs. The fund guidelines also specify the MEAA minimum fee guarantee of $250 (exc GST) - which is the minimum fee that must be paid for these gigs per performer. Superannuation should be paid on top of this fee.

Find out more https://meaa.io/3TXpByq

The Government is backing Victorian businesses, with grants for live music venues and local musicians now available.

19/08/2026

The Australian Ballet's decision to replace live musicians with recorded music on many of its touring productions is deeply disappointing.

Ballet is the collaboration between dancers and musicians, creating a live artistic experience that cannot be replicated by a soundtrack.

When live music is removed, audiences lose an essential part of the art form and professional musicians lose vital opportunities to work and create. We cannot allow recorded music to become the new normal.


Read more: https://meaa.io/4gmIH9K

Support the campaign to Keep Music Live: meaa.io/KeepMusicLive

19/08/2026

Listen to James Steendam, MEAA Federal President for Musicians, discuss the impact that the replacement of musicians with recorded tracks has on the experience for audiences, and musicians livelihoods - following his interview last week on ABC Radio National’s Critics Corner.

Some of Australia's biggest musical theatre shows, like The Lion King, are replacing musicians with music software. One of the newest and most sophisticated of these software programs is called KeyComp - and it's actually been banned in theatres on Broadway due to strict union rules. Now the union t...

17/08/2026

Vale Martin Foster, contrabassoonist, watchmaker and legendary union leader. Over decades as an activist, Martin was at the coalface of musicians’ industrial struggle, negotiating the first national agreement for musicians in ABC orchestras, establishing the Symphony Orchestra Musicians Association (SOMA) with colleagues from around Australia, and negotiating the first enterprise agreement with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra which established benchmark pay and conditions for working musicians.

Martin received honorary life membership from MEAA in acknowledgement of his contributions over many decades.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Rest in Power Martin.

More about Martin and his contributions: https://www.sydneysymphony.com/posts/vale-martin-foster

13/08/2026

MEAA calls for action as musicians face growing pressure to absorb superannuation costs.
At a time when musicians are already grappling with low incomes, insecure work and rising costs of living, the entrenched practice of not paying superannuation is placing further strain on a workforce that struggles to build long-term financial security.

Read more: https://www.meaa.org/Public/Contents/NEWS_EVENT/Releases_Statements/meaa_calls_for_action_as_musicians_face_growing_pressure_to_absorb_superannuation_costs.aspx

12/08/2026

The newest edition of Senza Sord is now available. Designed for symphony orchestra musicians, Senza Sord brings together the latest industry news, advocacy work, and insights into the challenges and opportunities facing Australia's orchestral and professional musicians.
Read the latest edition here: https://meaa.org/Hub/Contents/Portal/Resources.aspx?mdlsDownload=01T2BWTCPTOH4MA64RJ5BYMJCL5KYQGI6Z

06/08/2026

Photo dump from King St Crawl last month 🙌

Was great to see so many MEAA Musicians Australia members there. Musos, join your union 👉 https://meaa.io/4l3pAS0

Catch us at the next one 😜

30/07/2026

Thanks to the collective work of our members, MEAA Musicians Australia's minimum fee has been recognised by seven state/territory governments and the Commonwealth for gigs funded with public money.

We are calling on the music industry to support our claim for a fair minimum fee – and to support an increase in this in line with the cost of living.

We need you to take the pledge and stand with your fellow musicians. Find the link here https://meaa.io/4fZVdvF