Music festivals that have had drug-related deaths and illnesses or are classed high risk - including Defqon, Laneway and Lost Paradise - will be the only festivals subject to tough new government regulations.

After intense pressure from the music industry, the state government has moved to neutralise opposition to its new licensing scheme for festivals and has released a list of 14 to be impacted.

The government is taking a hard line against music festivals.

The festivals have either had serious drug-related illnesses or deaths in the past three years, or NSW Health and NSW Police have found there may be significant risk of overdoses at the festival.

The new regulations are in response to a string of drug-related deaths at festivals over the summer, and have been blamed, in part, for the cancellation of some NSW events.