What an Indie Label Head Would Change About Australian Music

Marthouse Records founder Dougal Shaw is the latest guest on Making Music, Making Ends Meet, our series focused on ANZ musicians during the cost-of-living crisis.

Starting out as a simple sharehouse idea in 2016, Marthouse Records soon evolved into a proper DIY operation, featuring a label, PR, and management wing, between 2017 and 2026.

In that time, Marthouse Records released over 40 records and tapes, 100s of digital releases, and put on almost too many shows and tours — both local and worldwide — to count.

When we asked Shaw what the Australian government could do better to support Aussie musicians, there was no stopping him.

“Some rock solid AI legislation for a start. The pricks are ripping us all off and selling us back cheap knock-offs. Ban Suno, ban Spotify, Ban AI music on Australian radio,” he said.

“Ban use of AI in music compositions and art in general. Harsh penalties for ticketing companies price gouging and adding ridiculous, unnecessary fees and driving up ticket prices. Subsidise flights and accommodation for artists.

“Get pokies out of pubs. Legislate Australian independent artist quotas for tech, ticketing, and touring companies so that people leeching off all our hard work and community building have to reinvest.”

Shaw, who also plays in Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice, continued: “Non-competitive grants — if you tick the boxes and spend a month getting together all the required information, support letters, and documentation, you get the funding.

“Publicly fund and nationalise one of the community radio stations so we have a national broadcaster that platforms and more closely reflects actual music communities and artists who are putting in the work outside of the industry framework.

“I got ideas for days, let’s fuckin’ goooo,” he added.

Elsewhere in the interview, Shaw looked ahead to ‘Odd Ball 3′, Marthouse Records’ final party, taking place this weekend (July 25th) in Melbourne. Ticket information is available here.

Read Shaw’s full Making Music, Making Ends Meet feature here.