South Australia is in the enviable position of having a dedicated Music Development Office (MDO) embedded within state government. Established in 2014, the MDO was the first office of its kind in Australia and was created to support, build and grow the local music industry.
Today, the MDO is a specialist area within CreateSA that supports the sustainable development of South Australia's original contemporary music industry. The office develops policy, and delivers strategic initiatives, funding programs and industry partnerships designed to strengthen the music ecosystem and support long-term industry growth.
South Australia has led the way in music policy and industry development, recognising the significant cultural, social and economic contribution of music to the state. The MDO’s holistic approach has resulted in targeted investment and support for the music sector for more than a decade and informed the development of similar entities around the country.
Strategically, the MDO works in collaboration with the sector to support creative development, business growth and industry development. This work helps create the conditions to enable South Australia’s music industry to perform, create and thrive, and audiences across the state to benefit from our rich music culture.
The MDO is also proud to celebrate Adelaide being recognised internationally as Australia's only designated UNESCO City of Music. Adelaide received this designation in 2015, which places the city into a network of creative cities around the world. This is an acknowledgment of the breadth, depth and vibrancy of the city’s music culture, its international reach, its history and its aspirations.
In 2025, the MDO was proud to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of the designation, an outstanding milestone for the dynamic music culture of South Australia.
