The arts sector was among the first to shut down when nationwide lockdowns took hold and will be among the last to reopen once the crisis subsides.

"They are obviously doing things very tough and the challenges will endure longer than most," Scott Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.

Australian singers Guy Sebastian and Mark Vincent both attended the online meeting.

So too did Richard Evans from Live Performance Australia, Dan Rosen from the Australian Recording Industry Association and Dean Ormston from APRA AMCOS, which represents songwriters, composers and publishers.

A dozen commercial businesses also took part in the talks.

Australia's unemployment rate has climbed to its worst rate in decades and the country is deep in recession.

Mr Morrison is now trying to reopen the economy without risking a devastating second wave of infections.

He has previously flagged a potential funding injection for the entertainment industry once coronavirus survival payments expire in September.

Australian Associated Press