ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the broader music policy settings of Scotland, New Zealand, UK and Australia, and how these are situated within historical and discursive trends. It examines how each nation has faced some remarkably similar challenges and similar discursive instruments presented to them in how to deal with such challenges. The chapter focuses on three matters: the role of the state in setting the direction of music policy; the proper mix and where popular music sits amongst calls for funding attention; and continuing debates about 'industry' and 'culture' arguments and their influence on attempts to gain government support. Unlike Scotland, Australian music policy does not suffer from the mixed governance of the UK and Scottish Executive systems. Problems derive from an abundance of governance structures. The chapter discusses the past and more immediate concerns of these nations, while also providing some context to the histories of the policy instruments deployed across popular music activity.
