BIGSOUND 2025 Generates Over $20 Million For Queensland Economy

We’ve always known that BIGSOUND was a big deal, but now we have even more proof of just how big it is, with a new report outlining the economic impact of the annual event.

The new report, which was authored by Dr. Andy Ward, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Music at the University Of The Sunshine Coast, reveals that every dollar invested in BIGSOUND this year brought with it a 10x return.

More specifically, the rate of return meant that for every dollar of public investment, it returned $10.85 in community value, with a total of $20.15 million generated for the Queensland economy, and 269 jobs being generated across the creative and hospitality sectors.

Further details point out that the 2025 event featured a total attendance of 34,000 people, with 262 showcase performers taking to the stage. Travellers stayed for a combined total of 4,750 nights, with 1,306 international and interstate guests spending an average of $1,748 at BIGSOUND.

“BIGSOUND has cemented Queensland’s reputation as a vibrant live music destination, drawing large audiences and industry stakeholders from across the globe to attend a brilliant program of events that showcase our Queensland artists,” said Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek.

“The Queensland Government is proud to invest in QMusic’s presentation of BIGSOUND, which supports the priorities of our 10-year arts and cultural strategy, Queensland’s Time to Shine and its commitment to growing our creative economy.

In his own statement, John ‘JC’ Collins AM – the Night-Life Economy Commissioner/Director and co-owner of both the Fortitude Music Hall and The Triffid – expressed delight at the impact that BIGSOUND has not just on the music industry and the economy, but the wider industries it supports.

“BIGSOUND is the engine room of Australia’s music economy,” he explained. “In the year 2000, a group of Queenslanders decided to have a crack producing a series of weeknight music seminars dedicated to upskilling their local scene – 25 years later that very idea is worth more than 20M to Queensland’s economy.

“Our nightlife and creative industries need events like BIGSOUND, supporting them is supporting a thriving, connected future for our state.”

“2025 was Crowbar’s first year as part of BIGSOUND, since we re-opened this beautiful music site, and these economic impact figures summarise what we saw firsthand in the first week of September: BIGSOUND drives the live music business!” said Tyla Dombroski, Director & CEO at of Crowbar, and board member for the Australian Music Venues Foundation.

“It builds community, keeps our cities and puts Australian music at the top of everyone’s minds.”

BIGSOUND will return to Fortitude Valley for its 25th year from September 1st to September 4th, 2026, with tickets to the anniversary event expected to go on sale in early in the new year.

The full economic impact report can be found via the BIGSOUND website.

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