Sam Whiting

Sam is a passionate advocate for live music venues and the important role they play in our communities. With more than a decade of experience researching and commentating on the live music sector, Sam believes that grassroots music venues are not just platforms for emerging talent but also spaces of social and cultural significance and the foundation of Australia’s night-time economy.

Sam is a Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow at RMIT University examining the current crisis in the Australian music industries. He has consulted and advised on live music legislation and policies, including work with the South Australian Music Development Office (MDO), the Live Music Office, City of Adelaide, and City of Melbourne. 

Operating at the forefront of live music policy, Sam collaborated with the MDO to develop South Australia’s Live Music Recovery Package (2020—21) and his work has informed the strategic direction of Australian music industries stakeholders more broadly. To survive and thrive, the live music sector, its venues, and governments at all levels need new ideas, and Sam’s research investigates these with the goal of informing policymakers, industry, and the broader public.

Sam has previously served on the Arts Industry Council of South Australia, the Creative Industries, Arts, Finance, Technology and Business Industry Skills Council, and the South Australian ‘Artists at Work’ Taskforce. He was also an elected councillor for the City of West Torrens, and has extensive experience working with and providing advice to government on a variety of issues specific to the cultural economy and beyond.

Sam holds a PhD from RMIT University on the social and cultural value of small live music venues, a topic Sam has published on widely, including his 2023 book 'Small Venues' (Bloomsbury). He also holds a Bachelor of Music Studies (Hons) from the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University.