Last month, Tone Deaf reported on the findings of the Live Music In Australia 2014 survey, which found that the Australian live music industry gives back to the economy three times what it takes in, to the tune of nearly $16 billion.
The study surveyed indoor, outdoor, and festival venues in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Hobart, taking in the sector’s approximately 65,000 full and part-time jobs, the income generated for both venues and performers, rent and profits for owners, and food and drink sales across the production hierarchy.
Now, a new set of research conducted by Live Performance Australia (LPA) and unveiled today has revealed that $1.51 billion of that massive sum is thanks to ticket sales alone, with 18.54 million tickets issued in 2014.
The audit, titled Ticket Attendance and Revenue Survey 2014, is released annually by Live Performance Australia and marks the most comprehensive survey of ticket sales for Australian live performance events.
“The value of the live performance industry to millions of Australians is evident in the continual growth in both revenue and attendance figures,” said LPA Chief Executive Evelyn Richardson, who noted the live scene’s importance to the vitality of the Australian economy.
“Despite a drop in the average ticket price and lower consumer confidence, total revenue from ticket sales increased by 2 percent and attendance grew by 3.4 percent in 2014.” Live performance even continues to outperform other sectors.
“The live performance industry continues to outperform other strong market sectors, including retail trade, and accommodation and food services and more people attend live performances annually than they do sporting events,” Ms Richardson said.
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Contemporary music and musical theatre were the two largest contributors to the industry, generating 40.1 percent and 21.2 percent of revenue respectively, with a combined attendance rate of 51.6 percent.
“The strength of the research findings further support a continued investment in developing a vibrant and sustainable live performance industry to ensure every Australian continues to have access to quality arts and cultural activities,” Ms Richardson added.
Victoria, New South Wales, and Western Australia generated a larger share of both revenue and attendance compared to their respective share of Australia’s population, with Victoria boasting the highest spend per capita both in 2014 and 2013.
Interestingly, the most significant gains in terms of sector were experienced by the festivals, musical theatre, and special events categories, though the increase for festivals can largely be explained by the inclusion of new data providers, including Falls Festival and MONA FOMA.
