Contemporary Music & Festivals Trump Classical In Australia

Live performances in Australia generated $2.55 billion for the Australian economy in 2012 and employed almost 35,000 people – 19,000 of them full time – with contemporary music being the largest contributing sector.

CONTEMPORARY UP, CLASSICAL DOWN

- Live performance revenue up on 2008 figures
- Contemporary music and festivals biggest contributors
- Drops for classical music, musical theatre

Industry body Live Performance Australia has released its new study, undertaken by EY (Ernst & Young), on the live performance industry in 2012 – an update to their 2010 report which looked at the 2008 figures. The numbers are up on 2008 when, with inflation added, the industry was worth $2.1 billion.

The report covers performances including live music, musical theatre, opera, comedy and dance productions and the biggest contributor to revenue was, by far, contemporary music – which accounted for 34.6 percent of the revenue.

The next largest was music theatre, which accounted for 14.6 percent and then single-category festivals (8.6 percent), theatre (8.6 percent) and ballet and dance (8 percent). Multi-category festivals, which comprise of more than one category of live performance (music and dance, for example) accounted for 1.6 percent.

Festivals and contemporary music were also the biggest growers when comparing the (inflation adjusted) 2008 numbers to 2012. Single-category festivals were worth more $50.4 million more in 2012 (up 30.6 percent), with contemporary music adding $31 million (up 4.3 percent).

At the other end of the table classical music was worth $135 million less to the Australian economy in 2012 (down 55.4 percent) and music theatre dropped $108.2 million (down 25.5 percent).

New South Wales and Victoria continue to comprise of 65 percent of revenue.

Half of the industry income – 49.6 percent – comes from ticket sales, with government funding accounting for 18 percent.

INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE $2.55 BILLION

34.6% - Contemporary Music
14.6% - Musical Theatre
8.9% - Festivals
8.6% - Theatre
8% - Ballet & Dance
6.6% - Classical Music
5.1% - Opera
4.6% - Circus & Physical Theatre
4.1% - Comedy
3.4% - Childrens/Family
1.6% - Multi-category Festivals
1.3% - Special Events

Source: Size and scope of the Live Performance Industry (Live Performance Australia, 2014)

Download the full report here.