LPA Ticket Attendance and Revenue Survey 2014

Photo: Henry V - Bell Shakespeare, Michele Mossop

Festivals (Multi-Category)Click for more info

In the period 2013 to 2014, Festivals (Multi-Category) increased significantly in terms of revenue and attendance. Gross revenue increased by 86.6% from $25.62 million to $47.81 million. The increase in total attendance was less pronounced at 34.7% and thus the stronger result in revenue is mostly explained by a rise in ticket prices. The average ticket price increased from $34.59 in 2013 to $48.41 in 2014, an increase of 39.9%.

The above changes can be largely explained by the inclusion of a number of new events in the 2014 Survey. The Falls Music and Arts Festival was included for the first time in 2014, and the significantly higher ticket prices for this festival increased the overall ticket price and contributed to strong gains in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. In addition, the inclusion of MONA FOMA and Dark Mofo for the first time this year contributed to strong growth in Tasmania. 

South Australia continued to dominate in this category due to the WOMADelaide Music, Arts and Dance Festival and Adelaide Fringe, which is the second largest Fringe Festival in the world after Edinburgh. Western Australia also performed well, in large part due to the strong growth of the Fringe World Festival in Perth.

Other major events in this category in 2014 included the annual Sydney Festival, Brisbane Festival, Perth International Arts Festival and Melbourne Festival. 

Close Table

Festivals (Multi-Category) - Revenue and Attendance (2004–2014)

Revenue ($) Growth (%) Total Attendance* Growth (%) Average Ticket Price ($)** Growth (%)
2004 $14,842,476 483,858 $32.26
2005 $5,170,934 -65.2% 157,228 -67.5% $39.13 21.3%
2006 $9,633,454 86.3% 201,711 28.3% $56.72 44.9%
2007 $9,318,441 -3.3% 294,296 45.9% $44.09 -22.3%
2008 $21,615,824 132.0% 551,810 87.5% $52.11 18.2%
2009 $10,642,917 -50.8% 431,061 -21.9% $33.60 -35.5%
2010 $9,570,915 -10.1% 263,464 -38.9% $43.12 28.3%
2011 $11,777,244 23.1% 242,222 -8.1% $57.02 32.2%
2012 $12,916,787 9.7% 260,623 7.6% $59.58 4.5%
2013 $25,622,029 98.4% 786,530 201.8% $34.59 -41.9%
2014 $47,805,136 86.6% 1,059,806 34.7% $48.41 39.9%

*Based on both paid and unpaid tickets

** Average Ticket Prices are calculated based only on paid tickets

State/Territory Breakdown Close Table

Close Table

Festivals (Multi-Category) - Revenue by State/Territory (2014)

State/Territory Revenue ($) Proportion Industry Share Change From 2013 Attendance Proportion Industry Share Change From 2013
NSW $12,359,382 25.9% 19.5% 79,712 7.5% 2.9%
VIC $7,588,917 15.9% 10.2% 43,494 4.1% -0.9%
QLD $1,994,449 4.2% -1.7% 83,878 7.9% 1.5%
WA $4,487,163 9.4% -1.1% 179,697 17.0% 3.3%
SA $16,583,347 34.7% -33.5% 593,926 56.0% -8.2%
TAS $4,525,407 9.5% 9.5% 69,242 6.5% 6.5%
ACT/NT $266,471 0.6% -2.9% 9,857 0.9% -5.2%

Photo: Perth International Arts Festival 2014, Toni Wilkinson

Individual Category Results