Festivals & Gigs Generate $760 Million

Australia’s peak body for live entertainment, Live Performance Australia (LPA), have released figures showing record growth for live entertainment in Australia in 2010. The Ticket Attendance & Revenue Study takes in data from most ticket sellers around the country and LPA say that concerts generated nearly $660 million in 2010 buoyed by an increase in high quality international acts visiting our shores due to the high dollar. Also increasing their fortunes were festivals who for the first time generated over $100 million throughout the year.

Chief Executive of LPA Evelyn Richardson says ”The strong revenue and attendance figures reflect Australians’ appetite for live performance and in particular the festival and music sectors. These sectors in particular benefited from strong international touring activity largely due to Australia’s buoyant economy”

Nearly 70% of all revenue was generated in New South Wales and Victoria, recording $465 million and $451 million respectively across all live entertainment including theatre. We won’t see any figures for 2011 until early next year but with major music festivals like Splendour In The Grass failing to sell out and 1 major festival postponing the honeymoon appears to be well and truly over.