South Australia is in the enviable position of having a dedicated Music Development Office (MDO) embedded within the State Government.
Established in 2014, the MDO’s focus is to develop policy to support, build and grow the local music industry.
As a specialist area of the South Australian Government through the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the MDO facilitates the development of the South Australia’s original contemporary music industry by having an ecosystem view, focusing on industry development to support both music creators and music businesses.
The 2023-25 MDO Strategic Plan: Supporting Revival focuses on cultivating a globally competitive, inclusive and sustainable ecosystem to underpin a golden era of growth for the contemporary original music industry in South Australia.
Motez launching Soulitude. Photo credit Support Act.
The sector is supported by the Music Development Office (MDO), a dedicated government office committed to supporting the growth of the original contemporary music sector in South Australia. The MDO does this through funding programs, strategic initiatives and key industry partnerships within the local and national music industry.
The industry is represented through peak body Music SA, a not-for-profit organisation committed to representing the voices of the original contemporary music sector in South Australia.
South Australia is fast becoming a creative hotspot for music industry entrepreneurs to create and thrive.
Adelaide was recognised internationally as a UNESCO City of Music in 2015, a designation which places the city into a network of creative cities around the world. This is an acknowledgment of the breadth, depth and vibrancy of the city’s music culture, its international reach, its history and its aspirations. In 2025, the MDO is proud to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of the designation, an outstanding milestone for the dynamic music culture of South Australia.
Adelaide supports a diverse range of independent musicians, a developing and entrepreneurial music industry, a series of world-class music and arts festivals, the world-renowned Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and leading music education and performance institutions.