One Movement Music Festival cancelled indefinitely

The One Movement Music Festival and conference has been cancelled indefinitely due to financial losses and lack of commercial sustainability.

The announcement follows the decision made in April by organisers to postpone the 2011 festival.

Since the inaugural event at Perth's Esplanade in 2009, Eventscorp has allocated $1.58 million in funding to the festival but poor ticket sales to the concert series and other showcase events recorded losses of more than $2 million.

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Event promoters Sunset Events and Chugg Entertainment worked to reinvigorate the festival for 2012 and are disappointed the event will not be back to offer a platform for emerging talent to perform for music industry leaders.

"Whilst we are disappointed that a commercially sustainable model could not be found moving forward for the event, One Movement is very proud of what was achieved in its inaugural and second year for artists, the industry and the City of Perth," a joint statement said.

Following poor attendance rates at the 2010 event, the Estimates and Financial Operations Committee launched an inquiry into WA Tourism's involvement with One Movement, however Eventscorp and One Movement said the decision to cancel the event was unrelated to the Legislative Council's inquiry.

"From Eventscorp's perspective One Movement did deliver some good results in its first two years, with the Conference, Fringe and Showcase elements attracting national and international bands, delegates and international music industry decision makers to Perth," Eventscorp Executive Director David Van Ooran said.

"But the festival component of One Movement held on The Esplanade didn't work for the organisers and that impacted on the viability of the whole event".

Since 2009, the One Movement event conducted industry conferences with more than 700 guest speakers, private industry showcases featuring emerging artists and an interactive Fringe Festival in Perth's CBD.

Artists including Paul Kelly, Operator Please, Hilltop Hoods, Art Vs. Science and Kate Miller-Heidke have all taken part in the musical expo.