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Australian live industry contracts in 2015

New figures showing declining revenues and attendances show the need for "greater investment in our industry", says LPA

By Jon Chapple on 01 Dec 2016

Australian flag beach ball, Big Day Out 2011, Sydney, Eva Rinaldi

A patriotic beach ball at the now-cancelled Big Day Out in Sydney


image © Eva Rinaldi

Live entertainment revenues and attendance both fell in Australia last year, reveals new data that Live Performance Australia (LPA) says underlines the “critical importance of a more strategic policy approach from the [government] for the live performance industry”.

The trade body’s Ticket Attendance and Revenue Survey 2015 reveals revenues declined 6.7%, to A$1.41 billion, and attendances 0.9%, to 18.38 million tickets sold, despite a 4.7% decline in average ticket prices.

“These figures underscore the economic and cultural value of the live performance industry for millions of Australians – but the [Malcolm] Turnbull government hasn’t always matched this with policy direction or commitments,” says LPA chief executive Evelyn Richardson.

“Instead, we have seen cuts to Australia Council funding for small to medium organisations, and more recently massive and unjustified increases in visa fees for large international touring groups.

“We strongly believe the government needs to support greater investment in our industry, which … enriches the cultural lives of millions of Australians”

“We strongly believe that the government needs to support greater investment in our industry, which creates jobs, employs more than 34,000 people, generates significant economic activity and enriches the cultural lives of millions of Australians.

“At the very least we require more effective consultation with government ministers and departments well before any changes that may affect our industry are considered.”

Continuing the trend seen in previous years, the survey found contemporary music and musical theatre to be the two largest contributors to the live industry, generating 34% and 23.8% of revenue, respectively.

Single-category festivals (ie only music) only managed third, hit by the December 2015 cancellation of Big Day Out. Similarly, 2016’s figures are likely to be affected by the surprise cancellation of SFX’s Stereosonic.

 


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