Australian Government to Promote ‘Oz Rock’

SYDNEY, Australia —  “Oz Rock,” Australia’s raunchy rock ‘n’ roll, may become a key commodity.

The Australian Trade Commission and Minister for Employment John Dawkins have launched a company to promote the export of local contemporary music, believing Australia’s rockers may be useful foreign exchange earners.

“We are about the art of making money,” Chris Gilbey, managing director of Export Music Australia Ltd. (EMA), said.

“Oz Rock,” the name the local music industry gives itself, is highly lucrative. Government officials estimate that Australian rock stars earned more than $80 million in overseas record sales alone last year. That doesn’t include promotions, recording contracts or live performances.

INXS, AC/DC, Crowded House, Midnight Oil and other bands are packing stadiums and concert halls around the globe, while individual performers such as Kylie Minogue and John Farnham dominate pop charts in Europe.

Oz Rock has scored a string of successes since the mid-1970s, but only now is the government stepping in to promote the industry abroad.

Dawkins said the last 12 months were the most successful ever for the Australian music industry.

EMA will take over the role of promoting, organizing and managing Australian music interests at trade fairs and will work with the Australian Contemporary Music Development Co. set up recently by the government to promote rock music locally.

The organization is funded by the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society Ltd., the Australian Record Industry Assn. and the Australasian Performing Right Assn. Ltd.

Its board of directors includes some of Australia’s most influential music figures, including Glen Shorrock, lead singer of the Little River Band.