LPA Ticket Attendance and Revenue Report 2018

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Contemporary MusicClick for more info

Contemporary Music infographic (PDF)

In 2018, revenue in the Contemporary Music category recorded a y-o-y growth of 32.2%, from $826.1m in 2017 to $1.1b in 2018 and 19.2% y-o-y growth in attendance, from 8.5m in 2017 to 10.1m in 2018. Additionally, a y-o-y increase in the average ticket price by 11.4%, from $105.73 in 2017 to $117.77 in 2018 contributed to the increase in revenue.

Contemporary Music continues to be the top contributor to the live performance market share. Contemporary Music generated approximately a 50.5% market share of revenue and 38.1% market share of attendance of the overall live performance events in 2018. This is the highest recorded market share in revenue and second highest market share in attendance (2010 being the highest) for Contemporary Music since 2004.

The annual variability of this category strongly reflects the number of high-profile international artists that tour in any given year, particularly the number of stadium tours that attract large audiences. Major international artists that toured Australia in 2018 included Pink, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, Celine Dion, Katy Perry and Michael Bublé. Major bands, including Bon Jovi and Foo Fighters, also performed. Growth in Contemporary Music revenue was primarily due to a number of prominent acts with arena or stadium tours that attracted large crowds and toured to most of the five major cities in 2018.

Victoria generated the largest market share in revenue (37.3%) and attendance (33.2%) in Contemporary Music, outperforming NSW. NSW and Victoria combined generated 68.5% of the market share in revenue (31.2% and 37.3%) and 64.9% of attendance (31.7% and 33.2%) in 2018. NSW and Victoria witnessed a y-o-y increase in revenue by 26.1% and 59.1%, and growth in attendance by 16.0% and 34.8% respectively.

Note: These figures do not include music festivals, which are categorised under Festivals (Contemporary Music).

Close Table

Contemporary Music - Revenue and Attendance (2004–2018)

Revenue ($) Growth (%) Total Attendance* Growth (%) Average Ticket Price ($)** Growth (%)
2004 $195,058,791 2,737,873 $77.09
2005 $287,201,319 47.2% 3,924,276 43.3% $83.37 8.1%
2006 $450,855,531 57.0% 5,295,988 35.0% $92.78 11.3%
2007 $503,240,419 11.6% 5,975,561 12.8% $90.49 -2.5%
2008 $389,160,746 -22.7% 4,330,620 -27.5% $101.35 12.0%
2009 $460,443,027 18.3% 4,682,805 8.1% $108.61 7.2%
2010 $659,102,048 43.1% 7,028,235 50.1% $102.78 -5.4%
2011 $539,274,481 -18.2% 5,939,618 -15.5% $103.45 0.6%
2012 $482,180,550 -10.6% 5,484,257 -7.7% $100.27 -3.1%
2013 $628,130,146 30.3% 6,266,137 14.3% $110.50 10.2%
2014 $604,963,041 -3.7% 6,386,058 1.9% $107.60 -2.6%
2015 $477,904,944 -21.0% 5,554,811 -13.0% $96.38 -10.4%
2016 $440,083,629 -7.9% 5,658,753 1.9% $85.35 -11.4%
2017 $826,050,167 87.7% 8,464,739 49.6% $105.73 23.9%
2018 $1,092,275,549 32.2% 10,088,329 19.2% $117.77 11.4%

*Based on both paid and unpaid tickets

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

State/Territory Breakdown Close Table

Close Table

Contemporary Music - by State/Territory (2018)

State/Territory Revenue ($) Market Share Proportion Market Share Change from 2017 Attendance Market Share Proportion Market Share Change from 2017
NSW $340,686,456 31.2% 26.1% 3,200,941 31.7% 16.0%
VIC $407,042,962 37.3% 59.1% 3,346,873 33.2% 34.8%
QLD $157,984,632 14.5% 17.6% 1,626,621 16.1% 12.2%
WA $111,025,831 10.2% 20.9% 1,056,419 10.5% 12.8%
SA $63,691,069 5.8% 10.3% 658,155 6.5% 5.8%
ACT $6,704,281 0.6% -6.8% 103,480 1.0% 5.8%
TAS $4,517,088 0.4% -33.8% 82,329 0.8% -6.0%
NT $623,231 0.1% -70.4% 13,511 0.1% -54.1%

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