Live Performance Australia (LPA) takes great pleasure in presenting our Ticket Attendance and Revenue Survey for 2014 (“Survey”).

This is the 11th annual Survey presented by LPA. The Survey is now the principal source of reliable industry statistics for the Australian Live Performance Industry, and represents the most comprehensive available survey of ticket sales for Australian Live Performance events. As the Industry’s leading source for up-to-date results and trends, the Survey is drawn upon extensively by the industry, government, media and business.

The development of LPA’s research reports, integral to promoting the value and importance of our industry, would not be possible without the generous support of our long-term partner and industry super fund, Media Super. Media Super has a long and respected history as a key supporter of Australia’s creative industries through sponsorship programs, employment and financial education support, as well as celebrating the excellence of Australia’s cultural offerings. LPA sincerely thanks Media Super for its continued partnership and support of this research.

This year we have introduced a dedicated section for individual state results in our Digital Report, which highlights key data and trends for each individual state and territory. This includes figures of revenue and attendance from 2009-2014, and category share of both revenue and attendance by state. We have also developed new infographics for each state and territory that highlight useful facts and figures.

In 2014, growth in the Live Performance Industry subsided following strong gains in 2013. The modest growth that was achieved is attributable to the inclusion of new data providers; removing their impact, the Industry experienced a slight decline in real terms. This result is consistent with a year of weaker consumer confidence across Australia which fell throughout 2014, ending the year at its lowest levels since 2011. Despite lower consumer confidence, the arts and recreation industry recorded positive productivity growth in 2013-14, outperforming other market sector industries such as retail trade and accommodation and food services.¹

Approximately 18.54 million tickets were issued to live performance events in Australia in 2014 – an increase of 3.4% on 2013 when 17.93 million tickets were issued. Ticket sales in 2014 generated total revenue of $1.51 billion, up 2% on 2013 when ticket sales totalled $1.48 billion. This increase in revenue occurred as a result of an increase in the total number of paid tickets, despite a decline in the average ticket price. On a like for like basis excluding new data providers, the industry experienced a slight decline in revenue (4.1%) and attendance (5%) in real terms between 2013 and 2014.

This year’s Survey includes data from new partners Brisbane Powerhouse, Hayes Theatre Co, MONA and Oztix. The Queensland-based venue Brisbane Powerhouse provided data for events across most categories. The Sydney-based Hayes Theatre Co predominantly presents small-scale musical theatre and cabaret. MONA provided ticketing information for MONA FOMA and Dark MOFO in the category of Festivals (Multi-Category) as well as some smaller events in the Contemporary Music and Special Events categories. Oztix provided ticketing information for events in most categories, with an emphasis on Contemporary Music and Festivals (Single-Category), which had a significant positive impact on these categories.

The addition of new data partners is important to improving the reach and coverage of the Survey. We encourage event owners and ticketing companies not presently included in the Survey to become data partners.

My staff aren’t surprised when seizing appropriate opportunities, I treat them to a little rendition of a song from Jesus Christ Superstar. While I could educate them and deliver the entire production from heart, verbatim, I’m usually encouraged to wind up somewhat earlier than the scripted curtain call.

I didn’t mind so much recently though, when immediately after my homage, a young colleague, who’d only recently joined us, knocked us all down with the most delicately beautiful performance of an aria and declared herself a classically-trained singer of very high calibre. It was breathtaking and amazing, but not completely unexpected. For you see, we not only work for our industries and our members’ careers and pursuits, but we are also of them. Our team comprise a veritable melting pot of performers, writers, aspiring producers, actors, musicians, industrial relations people and a number of other fields. All qualified and talented professionals in specialties and areas that we employ them for, they are more rounded than you might expect and that’s something we pride ourselves on.

At a time where the creative arts are facing government funding cuts and less solid support than ever before in this country, Media Super remains steadfastly committed to the people who entertain us with their talents and their charms, and to the businesses that employ them and foster this creativity.