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.
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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)
