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The Music Development Office (MDO) facilitates the development of South Australia’s music industry

Established by the South Australian Government in 2014, the MDO is a dedicated government office focused on supporting the growth of the local contemporary music industry in South Australia.

The MDO was set up by a partnership between Department for State Development and Arts South Australia in response to recommendations made from global music industry professional Martin Elbourne (Co-Founder Womad, key booker for Glastonbury Festival and Creative director and co founder of The Great Escape in Brighton).

Based at St Paul’s Creative Centre in the heart of Adelaide, the Music Development Office sits within the Creative Industries division of the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science and was the first and only government office of its kind in the country.

The MDO is proud to celebrate Adelaide’s designation as a UNESCO City of Music. Adelaide is one of 59 other Cities of Music around the world, as part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network and is Australia's only UNESCO City of Music.

James Alberts and kid Music At Work Carclew credit Morgan Sette

2021-22 Music Development Office Strategic Plan: Supporting Recovery

The 2021-2022 MDO Strategic Plan focused on supporting the reshape, recovery, rebuild and re-strengthening of a resilient, confident and future-ready music industry. A new strategic plan is being developed and will be released soon.

With themes aimed at encouraging collaboration, skills development, innovation, entrepreneurialism, promotion, access and export, the MDO activated the 2021-22 strategy through continued partnerships with key local and national industry organisations, and state and local government agencies. The MDO also worked directly with industry by identifying, developing, and championing contemporary music entrepreneurs, businesses, artists and their work.

To support this activity, the South Australian Government through the MDO committed more than $3.4 million across two financial years (2020-21 and 2021-22) to deliver industry support programs and to work with key organisations on initiatives that support the strategic intent outlined below.

This Strategic Plan targeted all artists and music industry entrepreneurs, businesses and organisations, inclusive of diverse communities throughout South Australia and set out intentions that underpin four phases:

A new Music Development Office strategy is in the works

The Music Development Office team, in consultation across South Australian Government agencies and with key industry leaders, organisations and contributors are working through a new strategic direction.

Stay tuned for more information soon.