Appendix 6 - International Music Council

in some way becomes ‘our’ music. If our friends like it too, this is a bond between us. If
it’s
‘their’ music – e.g. the music of another ethnicity, but we like it, we are apt to like them
too. If it’s ‘their’ music and we don’t like it, the gulf is deepened.
So exposure to greater musical diversity does not automatically make friends and placate
enemies. But acquiring an ability to cope with the differences could move people
from the
enemies list to something more positive.
34. The obstacles or challenges to be overcome in order to ensure better protection
and
promotion of musical diversity
This term can
be addressed in large measure by summarising the findings under previous
terms.
International issues
There are risks from agreements under GATS and through bilateral or regional agreements.
GATS is a positive list agreement, so cultural transactions are included only if a signatory
specifically takes that action. The Australian government articulated a policy some
years
ago which argued the necessity for its intervention in support of Australian culture:
Australia has long recognised the essential role of creative artists and
cultural organisations in reflecting the intrinsic values and
characteristics of our society, and is committed to sustaining
our
cultural policy objectives
with the context of multilateral trade
negotiations…
As reflected in the proposals,
there are factors which distinguish
cultural goods and services from other goods and services. Cultural
activities make a unique contribution to the social, economic and
political fabric of any country.
Market forces alone are rarely sufficient to allow cultural organisations
and individuals to be fully self-supporting. This is true for the cultural
sector worldwide, but in Australia’s demographic and geographic
circumstances it is particularly the case… The important mix of
subsidy, regulation and tax concessions …(is) a necessary subvention
in the national interest to sustain Australian creative resources…
(Australian Intervention on Negotiating Proposal on Audiovisual
Services, CTS Special Session, Geneva, July 2001)
It has adhered to this position in the GATS negotiations and made no offers
concerning culture.
However, this position was abandoned under pressure in the bilateral
agreement struck with the USA. Given the dominating position of the US in
the world cultural market, agreements to surrender cultural sovereignty to
the US are so pervasive that it may almost be irrelevant that this sovereignty
is not threatened under GATS.
Specifically, as has been stated already is section 4 above, Australia’s ability
to regulate audio and audiovisual media in favour of Australian content is
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