QMusic Claps Back At Council: 'That's Not How Democracy Should Work'

QMusic has provided an update into the current state of affairs following last week’s news that Brisbane City Council had pulled funding from the Queensland Music Awards following a controversial acceptance speech from jazz award winner Kellee Green.

News of the funds being pulled broke last week after Green was given Jazz Award for her instrumental composition River To Sea at the QMAs on March 25th. The phrase “from the river to the sea,” is labeled by critics as antisemitic and has has risen in prominence during the ongoing Gaza war which began in October 2023. Pro-palestinian campaigners deny the phrase is antisemitic and is a call for peaceful coexistence.

Green’s acceptance speech on the night featured strong pro-Palestinian sentiments, with Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner criticising the choice of song and the platform which Green was given.

“The decision to hand a major prize to an offensively titled anti-Jewish song raises serious questions about whether the awards have been hijacked by extremists,” Mr Schrinner stated.

“Allowing such vile hate speech to occur shows the awards seem to be no longer capable of achieving their own stated goal to ‘promote diversity and inclusion,” he Schrinner added. “As a result, we will be immediately withdrawing our funding and support for these awards.

QMusic CEO Kris Stewart responded to Schrinner’s revocation of funds and also outlined the nature of the judging process, ultimately assuring the public that the organisation would be in further contact with the Council to find a suitable compromise.

A petition was later set up in support of Green, and urged QMusic to “hold the line against political interference, to unequivocally defend artistic freedom, and to reject attempts to weaponise funding as a tool of censorship.” At the time of writing, it boasts over 2,300 signatures.

Now, Stewart and the QMusic Board have issued an additional statement to its members, assuring them that the organisation is “committed to acting with care and accountability.”

“This has been one of the most complex and challenging moments in QMusic’s history,” the statement reads. “In navigating a deeply sensitive situation, we acknowledge that our response has not met the expectations of all parts of our community.

“QMusic exists to support artists — not to manage them, censor them or protect others from the discomfort that art can cause.”

As they continued, QMusic acknowledged the national attention the incident has sparked, noting that it is their obligation to continue leading the conversations that have sprung up in the wake of the controversy, while rejecting any Governmental interference in regard to divided political opinions..

“We recognise the deep trauma and division caused by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, as well as the concerning rise in anti-Semitic activity both globally and here in Queensland,” they explained. “We support the view that there is no place for hate, discrimination or racism in our state.

“We disagree with the Lord Mayor’s decision to withdraw funding from an event designed to celebrate the achievements of Queensland’s music community – a decision made without consultation. While we will continue dialogue with Council and our funding partners, we must be clear: it cannot become standard practice for governments to revoke support in response to artistic expression they disagree with.

“That is not how democracy — or the arts — should work".”

The statement continued:

We are in regular contact with Kellee Green, offering support and connecting her with additional assistance and wellbeing services. We know this has taken a personal toll and we will continue to provide care in line with our values and responsibilities.

But we understand this goes beyond one individual. This is about culture, expectations and ensuring that artists remain safe to challenge the status quo.

We want to say this clearly: QMusic has no interest in controlling what artists say about their work. That is not our role. Our role is to protect the conditions in which art can be made and heard — even, and especially, when it challenges us.

We also recognise that with this freedom comes responsibility. While we prioritise an artist’s right to creative expression, we also have a duty to ensure our events are safe, inclusive and respectful. That balance is not always simple, but it is something we take seriously and will continue to strive to manage with care.

We also recognise that the systems we work within, including government partnerships and public funding, come with pressures. We don’t pretend to be immune to that, but we reject the idea that funding should come at the expense of artistic freedom.

We’ve heard the feedback from our community and understand there are ways we can better show up in our communication, our processes and our care. This reflection informs our next steps.

Concluding the statement, QMusic noted that a review of how they “honour artistic expression, uphold safety, advocate for artists and foster a culture of mutual respect” is underway, including a reflection on their role as an “industry convener and cultural advocate.”

“We will continue to work constructively with our funding partners to ensure that artistic freedom, cultural safety and community confidence can co-exist,” it concluded. “We don’t have all the answers, but we are listening, we are learning, and we are committed to representing Queensland’s music industry with strength and integrity”