ARIA AWARDS AND ARIA WEEK SECURED FOR SYDNEY UNTIL 2017

The Australian music industry gathered for the prestigious ARIA Awards at The Star earlier this week where it was announced both the Awards and ARIA Week will be held exclusively in Sydney for another three years until 2017 with support from the NSW Government.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Troy Grant said, “This funding ensures Australia’s pinnacle music industry events remain in Sydney, the nation’s live performance capital and the creative services hub of the Asia Pacific region.

“The ARIA Awards and ARIA Week showcase our Harbour City and its world class performance venues internationally, attracting visitation from across Australia and the world and providing a significant boost to the State’s visitor economy,” he said.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said the Awards round out an outstanding program of music events, conferences, industry master classes and forums as part of ARIA Week.

“ARIA Week is a fantastic initiative developed by ARIA in collaboration with Destination NSW that builds on the strong reputation of the ARIA Awards and Sydney’s music industry. It includes high profile events such as the Electronic Music Conference, the Asia Pacific’s premier dance music industry event, which is also supported by Destination NSW,” Ms Chipchase said.

“ARIA Week and the ARIA Awards encourage visitors to come to Sydney to enjoy a week of musical celebrations and take in Sydney’s attractions, and world-class shopping and dining while they are here.

“I am delighted Destination NSW will continue to work with ARIA over the next three years to further build the ARIA Week program, and partner in presenting the music industry’s night of nights, the ARIA Awards,” she said.