WAM posts budget surplus for 2015, announces new board members

Image: WAM CEO Mike Harris

Perth-based peak music association WAM (West Australian Music) posted a strong financial 2015, achieving a budget surplus of $40,416 against an expected $26, 760.

Other success stories included a 27% ticket increase for its flagship WA Music Conference, a 23% rise in membership retention and a set of new partnerships and sponsors.

CEO Mike Harris said that while 2014 had been “a year of recovery, which was essential at the time, 2015 was a year of consolidation that exceeded initial expectations, which was exactly what was needed. WAM delivered all it set out to do, and the organisation is well positioned for what lies ahead.” 

In a break down of income, its biggest revenue came from project management ($481, 425), followed by funding from the DCA ($465, 804) and Australia Council ($50,000), with others including sponsorship, ticket sales, other state funding, workshop fees and membership fees.

In other highlights of the report:

Membership rose to a peak of 746 individual members. Artists, songwriters and composers make up the bulk of membership, with a strong presence of managers, producers and booking agents. Interestingly, venue owners, media, publishers and record label execs were lower than expected.

WAM attained deductible gift recipient (DGR) status, which allowed it to receive tax-deductible donations to the WA Music Fund. After hearing its Sounds Of The Pilbara II, local author and doctor Peter Burke was its first donor.

The 2015 WA Music Conference’s rise in ticket sales rose to an engagement with 177 members of the WA music industry and over 100 speed date meetings. The Quay Note Boat Party also sold-out. Various workshops through the year, including the Music Industry Sundowner Series, drew 115 participants.

10,000+ punters celebrated WA music over the four-day WAM Festival in November, with a record number of shows from 166 acts across 25 venues and 27 events, plus the release of the 40-track Kiss My WAMi compilation.

With a prize pool worth over $40,000, WAM’s Song Of The Year received 846 entries, with KUČKA taking home the Grand Prize at the epic SOTY party, which moved to the B-Shed in Fremantle.

The Wheatbelt Touring Circuit saw 4,326, punters enjoying music across 13 Wheatbelt centres over 10 monthly tours.

WAM’s groundbreaking all-Indigenous Sounds Of The Pilbara II: Songs In Language compilation showcased 26 tracks covering five First Nation’s languages.

International strategies included seeing representation at Music Cities, The Great Escape and Music Matters Live, plus the Singapore Western Australia Music exchange saw five acts play and three managers attend Music Matters Live and three acts showcasing at Beerfest. 

WAM key social media platforms all exceeded 15% KPIs, ranging from 20.2-162% increases in engagement and followings across all platforms. Website traffic saw vast improvements, including Page Views increasing by 37.1% and Users by 74.7%.

The Annual Report was delivered by WAM President Al Taylor who said, “It’s been a big year. We lifted our programs, events and actions another few notches, but we are far from done.”

WAM CEO Mike Harris added, “As an organisation, we are striving to deliver strong outcomes that advance all sectors of the WA music community, and expose local music to the broadest audience. Most Western Australians have some touch point with music in their day-to-day lives, and we want that to be increasingly West Australian Music.” 

Joining the WAM board were Oryx Consolidated Managing Director Toby Browne-Cooper and Business Station Inc and MarketingWest’s Marketing & Business Adviser Holly Walton. Reappointed were Anton Mazandarani (WAAPA Marketing Manager, Co-Founder Death Disco) and Jacob Snell (Head of Business Development at Monster Management).

The executive Board continues with Taylor; Vice President Noah Shilkin; Secretary Bel Skinner; and Treasurer Steven McCabe. Outgoing board members were Simon Reed (seven years on the board), and David Hyams (17 years on the board, including a stint as President in 2006/07), plus short-term members Jo Carson and Leanne Casellas.