For young Australians, the odds have not been stacked in their favour when it comes to, well, anything.
Student loan debts, stagnant wages, exorbitant house prices, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis hit hard, but when accessing an outlet becomes difficult too, what are young people supposed to do?
These are some of the key findings in a new report shared by The Push, Australia’s music charity for young people.
The 2026 Young Australian Music Audiences Report is focused on young people’s voices. The annual report, now in its third year, tracks changing attitudes and behaviours and their connection to live music participation, music discovery, Australian music, and more.
This year’s report is based on a nationally representative survey of 1,025 Australians aged 16-25, conducted by YouGov in May.
According to the data, 65% of young Aussies say that live music comes with major benefits, including increased wellbeing and happiness. 50% of respondents also revealed that live music helps them manage stress, anxiety, or depression.
However, these young Aussies face significant barriers to accessing live music. 68% of respondents have less than $100 a week to access entertainment, a figure that’s risen by 58% since 2024.
For those under 18, another hurdle remains: 45% of 16- to 17-year-olds report being barred from live music due to venue licensing laws, and another 45% say there’s a “severe drought” of under-18 or all-ages events where they live.
Even with these barriers, young Aussies have a remarkably high appetite for live music, but they don’t know where to find gigs showcasing local artists: 43% rarely or never see Australian artists perform live, while 59% reported that while they want to attend local shows, they don’t know where to find out about them.
You can check out other findings from the report here.
In a statement, Kate Duncan, Chief Executive Officer of The Push, commented that Australia is in the midst of a “mental health and cultural crisis,” and live music is overlooked as something that can assist both.
She also warned that failing to create accessible, all-ages pathways will deprive an “entire generation” of community connection and continue to dramatically impact the local music scene.
“Through this report, young Australians are telling us loud and clear that music events are vital to their wellbeing and social connection,” Duncan said.
She continued, “Yet year after year, we keep seeing young people locked out. We know Australia is facing a dual mental health and cultural crisis, and music continues to be overlooked as one of the most impactful tools we have to tackle both.
“If we do not create accessible, all-ages pathways today, we’re depriving an entire generation of community connection while starving our local music economy of its future audience and artist baseline.”
Jamison Kehl, Artist and Youth Lead, Training and Operations, The Push, added, “Going to see local bands should be an essential part of growing up, but right now it feels like the system is built to keep us out.
“Between over-18 venue rules and ticket prices, young people are forced to miss out on the experiences that help us cope with stress and feel connected. This data shows that this isn't just something we are feeling — it's real for young people right across the country.”
Samoan and Barkindji singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mone Hunt-Feagai from the Ipswich band LanGwij opened up about growing up around music and then facing a stark contrast between that upbringing and when the band started hitting the road.
“This report from The Push puts data behind what young people across Australia feel every day: that without accessible live gigs, young artists lose the chance to learn their craft in front of a real crowd, and young people lose one of the few genuine places left to connect in person,” Mone Hunt-Feagai said.
“I’ve grown up around music my entire life, so when I started writing my own songs with LanGwij, I was taken aback by how few opportunities there are to connect to IRL audiences. There’s something magic about live music, and it will always conquer anything you consume on a screen — and that’s what young people want to see more support for.”
Killing Heidi’s Ella Hooper concluded that live music provided a “lifeline” when she grew up in a country town, and the regional all-ages circuit gave a burgeoning young band connection with fans.
Hooper explained, “For a kid from a small country town, music is more than entertainment — it’s really a lifeline. As a band in the 90s/00s, the regional all-ages circuit gave us connection, a sense of identity and bolstered our ambition.
“I’m concerned, though, because this data proves young people need music now more than ever, and without addressing the growing barriers we risk harming young people and narrowing the pipeline of future Aussie bands — that’s why the work of The Push is so vital; it gives young people a way to find themselves through music.”
