PO Box 73 Tamworth 2340
Tel 0267 622 993 Fax 02 6766 9918
Previous Media Releases
New Stakeholders Group gears up to help the Festival
At a meeting in Tamworth in November (2009), almost 50 people from local business organisations including media, the hospitality industry, event organisers, printers, entrepreneurs, recording studios and country music artists, voted to formally establish the Tamworth Country Music Festival Stakeholders Group.
The Group's stated objective is to represent the views and interests of all commercial stakeholders in country music activities in Tamworth including the January Country Music Festival and to help maintain and develop the Festival for the benefit of all the community.
Members of the new organisation must make all or part of the their income from country music activities in Tamworth and it is open only to individuals, organisations and companies based in Tamworth.
Local identity Max Ellis, one of the founders of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, was elected Chairman of the Group. Vice Chairman is Marlene Manvell and Secretary/Treasurer is Bob Kirchner.
Update: since this release was issued, Barry Harley was elected Chairman in place of interim Chairman Max Ellis who remains on the Group's executive.
Following a deputation to the Mayor of Tamworth Councillor James Treloar, two representatives of the Group, which had been meeting informally over a number of weeks, were invited to join Council's Event Development Strategy Group.
At the November establishment meeting, the Group resolved to review a number of initiatives aimed at bolstering attendance at the annual country music festival including identifying business, visitor and industry concerns and reinforcing the fact that the event is a Country Music festival and not a Music festival.
The Group will also investigate questions of intellectual property rights involving Festival themes and names and look for new or rejuvenated activities, which could expand the scope of the Festival and attract new visitors without compromising the basic country music character and identity of the event.
"We aim to work closely with Council, Events NSW, Tourism Tamworth and the Country Music Association of Australia to maintain Tamworth's position as one of the pre-eminent country music festivals in the world," Mr Ellis said.
Stakeholders Group disappointed with Festival blueprint recommendations
MEDIA RELEASE MONDAY JUNE 7, 2010
The Tamworth Country Music Festival Stakeholders Group has expressed disappointment with many of the recommendations released last week by a partnership of the Country Music Association of Australia, Events NSW, Tamworth Regional Council and Tourism Tamworth.
And it will vigorously push for positive changes and offer definite alternate proposals for the future.
The Group formed late last year when it became apparent that “the partnership” (representing only a small group of Festival stakeholders) announced it was going to establish a “blueprint for the future of the Tamworth Country Music Festival”.
A Sydney consultancy was employed to help with the blueprint and, without any consultation outside “the partnership”, several dramatic and radical changes were made immediately, or foreshadowed, for the then upcoming January festival only months away.
After some strong immediate negative reaction, “the partnership” then undertook a lengthy consultation, which resulted in the release of its recommendations for the “blueprint” late last month.
Throughout the consultation period, members of the Group, representing dozens more stakeholders in the Festival and the Tamworth country music industry in general, made numerous comments and suggestions to “the partnership”.
“We are disappointed that virtually all of our suggestions have been ignored to date,” said Barry Harley, Chairman of the Stakeholders Group.
At a general meeting after the launch of “the partnership” recommendations, members of the Group discussed various aspects of the recommendations and endorsed a submission compiled by the Group’s executive members in response.
“Apart from being broadly unrepresentative, we query how any of the subsequent recommendations may be adopted, implemented and funded, let alone effectively in time for the January 2011,” Barry said.
“We are also worried that no suggested timetable has been foreshadowed regarding the recommendations, as stated or amended.
“Indeed, we are concerned that all of this is being done too hastily and will result in continuing last-minute ad-hoc adjustments to the upcoming Festival.
“One of our major responses will be to push for the formation of an independent ‘festival umbrella co-operative’ which would not compete with other Festival players but would co-ordinate and work with all the many individuals and organisations that help contribute to creating the Festival.
“Other concerns relate to…
“Suggestions to widen the appeal of the Festival by targeting a younger age group instead of focusing on the core, and expanding, mature market…
“A perceived desire for ‘the partnership’ to have control over aspects of the Festival they should not have…
“A query about how a proposed ‘Council Curator’ position would work…
“Proposals to exclude previous Festival sponsors and supporters by organising exclusive sponsorship deals and media partnerships…
“And a general lack of broader stakeholder involvement.”
Numerous other fears, the Stakeholders Group says, include suggestions to have a “heritage committee” (which already exists in the Australian Country Music Foundation) and a mentoring program between top country music artists and “emerging talent” (which already happens with the very successful Australian Academy of Country Music).
The Group has submitted its response formally to “the partnership” and is now awaiting a reply.
In the meantime, the Group has highlighted its response document on its website (see below) together with the document released last week by “the partnership” for the benefit of anyone who may not have seen it.
“We will also be publishing a series of articles outlining some of the areas of major concern,” Barry said.
“We welcome comments on our submission and, of course, anyone who wishes to join our cause may do so on our website.”
to "the partnership document (pdf file)
