LISTENING IN – LIVE MUSIC RESEARCH SERIES
From April to June 2025, Music Australia is releasing a series of three reports on Australians’ engagement with music. The series is titled Listening In.
The first in the Listening In series focuses on Australians’ attendance to live music events. This report on live music adds important insights on audience preferences, motivations and needs.
According to the report, in recent years, engagement with Australian music has been declining. There has been a drop in the number of Australian musicians featured on Australia’s ARIA charts and triple j’s hottest 100. At the same time, small live music venues, have been closing across the nation, with many citing operational challenges. These venues form a vital part of Australia’s music ecosystem and play a key role in the development of local artists.
Key findings
- Music is important to the majority of Australians. Younger music-engaged participants, in particular, recognise the positive impact live music has on their relationships, a sense of community and belonging, and on their mental health and wellbeing.
- Cost is the primary barrier for Australians to attend live music events. Audiences say the cost of tickets is not the only financial barrier, but also that associated expenses (including travel, accommodation and food and drinks at the venue) all add up and reduce the accessibility of some live music events.
- Australian music is highly valued and may be easier to see live than international acts. But while there is a keenness to see more Australian live music, many may be prioritising rare international acts as they are seen as a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity.
- Attendance is increasing for live music at major venues and festivals. At the same time, there is declining attendance for live music at pubs and clubs, which are fertile grounds for local musicians to grow their audience.
- While cost of living is concerning many young Australians, there is a willingness to spend money on the things that matter to them, and some are prepared to ‘break the bank’ to attend live music gigs. Despite feeling less financially secure, young Australians are spending larger sums on entertainment and leisure in 2024 than they were in 2019. Findings from our research with music-engaged participants show that most people from this group are saving up to attend live music events that are important to them, prioritising these costs over other expenses.
- There are other more subtle trends that seem to be sitting behind a lot of behaviour, including lack of interest, limited awareness of events and sentiment that some areas are served better live music offerings than others. Those living outside the major centres are feeling underserved when it comes to live music offerings in their area.
- High costs for alcoholic drinks at live music events are compelling some of the music-engaged to alter their drinking habits. While most music-engaged participants often or always drink alcohol at live music events, a proportion are choosing to only drink beforehand or find other ways to heighten their experience. Most say this is because alcohol is too expensive these days.
Read the full report here >>> Listening In research series | Creative Australia
