Research Reveals How Aussies Discover New Music

New research has examined how Australians find new music – including homegrown tunes.

For the report, Spotify joined forces with YouGov to survey 4,017 Australians online between 22 and 31 July 2025. The research is all about how listeners discover new artists and whether Australian music is easy to find.

The second instalment of research from Spotify’s local music initiative, Turn Up Aus, the Australian Music Discovery Report follows the Global Impact Report, released in July.

Research found that 85% of Australian listeners are satisfied with their ability to discover new music on streaming platforms, with the same proportion of those surveyed happy with the variety of artists and songs available and 47% saying they’re very satisfied.

In addition to satisfaction finding new music, 81% of participants surveyed noted that it’s easy to discover Australian artists on streaming services, a figure that’s even higher among Gen Z (83%) and millennial (84%) listeners.

Punters are also finding local music organically, with 61% of listeners satisfied with the amount of Australian music they can listen to on streaming services. Music discovery is also empowering for Aussies, with 42% of participants surveyed saying that they actively seek out independent or lesser-known artists.

“The data tells a positive story: that 81% of listeners feel Australian music is visible, accessible, and easy to explore on streaming platforms,” said Alicia Sbrugnera, Spotify’s Head of Music Development for Australia and New Zealand.

Sbrugnera added, “We know that when we support the discoverability of new music, we're supporting the entire Australian music ecosystem—for artists, venues, labels, and fans—and through this new research, fans have told us that it's working."

Canberra’s Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers added, “For Australian artists like us, discovery is the bridge between making music at home and connecting with audiences around the world. It’s great to see that local listeners feel empowered to find new music – it’s that curiosity that helps our songs travel.”

The Push CEO, Kate Duncan, explained, “We have heard loud and clear that young audiences are actively looking to discover Australian music, and they’re using platforms like Spotify to do it. This matters because visibility on streaming is often the first step for young audiences forming a lifelong connection to Australian music—the moment where curiosity becomes connection, and connection becomes sustained engagement with homegrown artists.”

MGM Distribution Director, Michael Chase, added, “The findings in this report are really encouraging for Australian music. Discovery is happening everywhere—at home and across global markets—and it’s great to see the data reflect that.

“Spotify’s indie team, both globally and here in Australia, are genuine music lovers who consistently show up for artists. You can see that commitment in initiatives like Turn Up Aus, which put local talent at the centre. Australian artists have always punched above their weight, and with 42% of local listeners actively seeking out independent or emerging acts, the opportunity for the indie sector is clearer than ever.”