New Data Finds Cost-Of-Living Crisis Is Drawing More People To Heavy Music

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According to new data amassed by Spotify, it seems that Australians are increasingly turning towards heavier music genres as the cost-of-living crisis puts pressure on communities across the country.

The mega streaming service found that from 2020 to 2025, metal streams surged by an incredible 105%, while punk and rock genres boomed by 80%, signalling a broader shift towards heavier music. And, it’s a trend that seems to be taking hold across the globe.

Over the last five years, heavy music has outpaced gains in dance and electronic music (+74%), pop (+63%), and hip-hop (+31%). Its rise is seen globally, with metal streams up 115%, punk up 168%, and rock up 96%.

In addition to the above statistics, Spotify has revealed that Sydney is the country-leading city in making hardcore playlists, while Melbourne dominates for both post-punk and metalcore playlists.

Sure, some of those stats could be driven by massive tours by the likes of Metallica, Green Day, and AC/DC, but Spotify ANZ’s Music Editor Joe Khan believes there are more substantial factors at play.

As uncertainty stemming from inflation and other cost-of-living pressures, war, and a tumultuous political landscape dominates the news, it seems that global listeners are looking to heavy music for catharsis.

Meanwhile, the likes of Turnstile and Sleep Token have reshaped what heavy music can sound (and look) like, which appeals to a new generation of music fans, and Australian band SPEED continues to give back to their local community.

Khan explains, “Rock, punk, and metal are having a genuine cultural moment again, and it’s being fuelled by both global icons and a boundary-pushing new wave of artists.

“Huge local tours from the likes of Metallica, Green Day, Linkin Park, and AC/DC have reignited mainstream attention, while artists such as Turnstile, Fontaines D.C., and Sleep Token have reshaped what these genres look, sound, and feel like for a new generation.”

Khan continued, “That momentum is being mirrored with Australian artists too, with the global success of Melbourne punk outfit Amyl and The Sniffers who nabbed a Grammy nomination last year, and ARIA Award winning Sydney hardcore band SPEED, who have long invested in their local scene, even recently using their $80,000 NSW Music Prize win to launch a free, all-ages live music series to support the next generation.

“It’s impossible to speak to the rise of these genres without acknowledging the pressures shaping how people are feeling right now.

“As audiences navigate post-pandemic realities, cost-of-living pressures and an increasingly uncertain and divided world, they’re reconnecting with genres that have long offered catharsis, resistance and a sense of belonging, making rock, punk and metal feel more relevant and vital than ever.”