NSW launches ‘Neon Marketplace’, a platform dedicated to nightlife professionals
Eora/Sydney has long suffered a shaky reputation when it comes to its nightlife. Overbearing police presence, entitled and noise-averse neighbours, and the ever-mentioned ‘lockout laws’ have not been kind to a city with such international attention.
Thankfully however, there are signs that the city is slowly moving back towards more glorious days. Oxford St club Carousel recently scored a spot in the Top 100 Clubs globally, the state’s Minister for Music & Nightlife, John Graham, has made some major amendments to the state’s Festivals Act, and the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner has just launched ‘Neon Marketplace’.
The Office which started in 2021 and shortly after Michael Rodrigues was appointed NSW’s first ever 24-Hour Economy Commissioner, has been responsible for a series of reports and recommendations, such as its Vibrancy Reforms and Data after Dark Quarterly Insights.
Neon Marketplace is a strategy, in their words, “an online b2b platform designed by the Commissioner that brings together precincts, businesses, suppliers, jobseekers and performers… [which will] make it easier to bring these groups together to enhance collaboration and make it simpler and faster to connect directly with each other to create new opportunities.”
The platform, set to become a valuable tool for individuals of every kind across the nightlife spectrum, launched in late 2024. To better understand how the platform will effectively work, and what needs it’s set to fill, we posed a series of questions to the Commissioner himself, Michael Rodrigues.
Q: Mike, thanks so much for your time. To kick off, could you explain in a sentence or so, what Neon Marketplace is?
MR: One sentence is hard... so I’ll use two! Neon Marketplace is an Australian-first, business-to-business (B2B) platform that facilitates collaboration between Districts and players in the going-out economy in NSW. Districts are collectives of engaged local businesses working together to promote their local areas and Neon Marketplace is a one-stop shop that connects users to an entire District and all the businesses within it.
Q: I’ve read that it’s a b2b platform, focused on communication between precincts, businesses, performers & more. Is there any barrier to entry in applying to be a part of it?
MR: Districts featured on Neon Marketplace are funded through the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner’s Uptown District Acceleration Program. These Districts are located within Greater Sydney; however, this remit is expanding to include areas across Greater Newcastle, the Central Coast and the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region in early 2025. So, if you’re a business looking to join a District, then keep an eye out for new ones arising (or consider creating your own!). The good news is, if you’re a creative, an artist or supplier, you can collaborate with Districts and businesses within them, outside of your own geographical remit. For example, if you’re a musician based in Newcastle and want to collaborate with Hollywood Quarter in Sydney on an upcoming event, then Neon Marketplace is your go-to.
Q: Everyone & their mum is a DJ these days, can every budding artist sign up to be a part of Neon Marketplace?
MR: Neon Marketplace is not for everyone - like any marketplace, it is for users that have something unique and different to offer other users. It is focused on accelerating connections between businesses and local creatives from a place-based perspective; that is, accelerating connections between, for example, local live music venues and musicians, local events with producers, artists and performers, local outdoor markets with unique stall holders.
Q: What sort of opportunities are you hoping that Neon Marketplace will provide venues? & how do you see this working for creators & performers?
MR: Venues can expand their networks and offerings that can drive awareness, foot traffic and economic growth. For example, a live music venue may be looking for artists to perform, brand partnerships for an activation, or a social media editor to build their profile, and much more.
Neon Marketplace can help creators and performers connect with Districts, find opportunities to participate in events, and connect to local venues within Districts offering live performance programming in their areas. These opportunities will continue to grow and expand with more Districts coming online across the state, which is really exciting!
Q: Are there any other platforms like this that you know of globally?
MR: Not that I am aware of! I believe Neon Marketplace is the first platform of its kind globally.
Q: What was the thought process behind creating the platform? Are venues finding it difficult to collaborate with artists?
MR: Neon Marketplace is the evolution of the NSW Government’s precinct-based approach to economic development, fostered through initiatives such as the Uptown District Acceleration Program, the Purple Flag night-time precinct accreditation program and Special Entertainment Precincts where special trading hours, sound controls and live entertainment incentives can help night-time districts to thrive. Neon Marketplace brings this approach to placemaking online, allowing 24-hour economy participants to easily connect and collaborate, on a precinct level, in real time. Venues no longer need to use multiple platforms to find artists, event producers, marketers, brand partnerships and sponsorship opportunities because Neon Marketplace offers it all!
Q: A common concern I’ve heard from people within dance music is that there simply aren’t enough venues. Can Neon Marketplace be used by people not operating licensed businesses, but creative spaces like art galleries, etc?
MR: It’s a valid concern and one we are trying to remedy through various programs and initiatives including cutting red tape and simplifying regulation through the Vibrancy Reforms, the Live Performance Venue Program and Neon Marketplace. Ultimately the platform enables collaboration across the entire going-out ecosystem including creative spaces like galleries. For these types of venues, you can use Neon Marketplace to engage artists for an upcoming exhibition, secure funding through a sponsorship or partner with a brand for an activation.
Q: Is there anything within Neon Marketplace that addresses the shortage of spaces available?
MR: NSW is home to some incredible spaces and some are underutilised for one reason or another. Neon Marketplace seeks to unlock the potential of venues, bringing new life and purpose to places and spaces for the benefit of businesses, artists and the community.
Q: Many venues around Sydney are still quite conservative in their approach to music. Do you have hopes that this service might change that somewhat?
MR: Neon Marketplace offers new opportunities for industry which may lead to venues taking a new approach, but these concerns are also addressed through initiatives led by my Office including the Vibrancy Reforms, Live Performance Venue Program and Special Entertainment Precincts.
Through the Vibrancy Reforms, the NSW Government is supporting live music and performance venues to thrive and meet their full creative, entertainment and economic potential. This includes supporting a fairer approach to managing entertainment noise with a single lead regulator, and encouraging more Special Entertainment Precincts, where live music venues can benefit from extended trading hours and favourable sound controls, potentially creating opportunities to diversify live music and entertainment activities in a going-out district.
I’m particularly excited about the commencement of new reforms next year that will “switch off” conditions of development consent or plans of management at all licensed premises that prohibit particular music genres, the number or types of instruments, the number of musicians, the playing of original music, whether dancing occurs, the presence of a dancefloor, the direction a stage faces or even use of decorations (e.g. mirror balls). Also, the ‘switching off’ conditions of development consent or plans of management that prohibit ‘live entertainment’ at hotels, clubs and small bars. By removing these barriers, there can be new opportunities for venues to offer live music or entertainment, or for venues to diversify their current activities.
Q: I’d love to know what the overall goal is for Neon Marketplace. Is there a specific target it’s working towards?
MR: Our goal is to forge globally acclaimed 24-hour precincts across NSW. Neon Marketplace expedites the growth of these precincts and Districts, and the businesses within them, so we hope to continue expanding this model across the entire state!
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Learn more about Neon Marketplace via the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner, here.
Jack Colquhoun is Mixmag ANZ’s Managing Editor, find him on Instagram.
