LPA Ticket Attendance and Revenue Survey 2016

Photo: Kinky Boots, Michael Cassel Group, Matthew Murphy

ComedyClick for more info

In 2016 the Comedy category recorded the highest ticket sales revenue and attendance since this category was introduced to the Survey Report in 2009. Between 2009 and 2016 revenue has increased by 118.3% and attendance has increased by 83.3%. Comedy has experienced growth in both revenue and attendance each year since 2013. Between 2015 and 2016 Comedy generated significant gains in revenue by 57.3% from $55m to $86.4m, and in attendance by 42% from 0.99m to 1.4m. In 2016 Comedy experienced the highest growth in revenue and attendance amongst all other categories. The increase in the average ticket price by 9% from $60.11 in 2015 to $65.54 in 2016 contributed to the growth in revenue.

The significant growth in Comedy was primarily driven by major high-profile comedians that headlined tours in 2016 including international comedians Kevin Hart, Billy Crystal, Michael McIntyre and Dawn French, as well as local comedians Carl Barron and Jim Jeffries. As in previous years, revenue and attendance in the Comedy category was largely generated by the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Sydney Comedy Festival.

Tasmania was the only state to experience a decline in revenue, with a decrease of 57.7%. In 2016 Victoria generated the majority of national revenue (40.9%, declined from 46.5% in 2015) and attendance (47.1%, declined from 56% in 2015).

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Comedy - Revenue and Attendance (2009–2016)

Revenue ($) Growth (%) Total Attendance* Growth (%) Average Ticket Price ($)** Growth (%)
2009 $39,570,117 769,058 $54.06
2010 $39,048,164 -1.3% 792,713 3.1% $51.53 -4.7%
2011 $51,999,602 33.2% 1,011,342 27.6% $55.07 6.9%
2012 $48,694,665 -6.4% 981,035 -3.0% $53.55 -2.8%
2013 $41,473,321 -14.8% 912,609 -7.0% $48.82 -8.8%
2014 $45,154,726 8.9% 963,108 5.5% $50.55 3.5%
2015 $54,924,280 21.6% 992,399 3.0% $60.11 18.9%
2016 $86,382,773 57.3% 1,409,299 42.0% $65.54 9.0%

*Based on both paid and unpaid tickets

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

State/Territory Breakdown Close Table

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Comedy - by State/Territory (2016)

State/Territory Revenue ($) Market Share Proportion Change from 2015 Attendance Market Share Proportion Change from 2015
NSW $21,444,180 24.8% 82.4% 302,015 21.4% 115.7%
VIC $35,367,097 40.9% 38.6% 664,317 47.1% 19.5%
QLD $11,028,063 12.8% 50.3% 175,394 12.4% 16.6%
WA $12,189,587 14.1% 173.3% 172,454 12.2% 216.9%
SA $3,125,300 3.6% 20.0% 40,383 2.9% 17.5%
ACT $2,266,127 2.6% 6.1% 36,312 2.6% -3.0%
TAS $159,956 0.2% -57.7% 2,936 0.2% -10.9%
NT $802,464 0.9% 9.4% 15,488 1.1% -5.9%

Photo: Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala, Jim Lee

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