LPA Ticket Attendance and Revenue Survey 2016

Photo: Kinky Boots, Michael Cassel Group, Matthew Murphy

Contemporary MusicClick for more info

In 2016 ticket sales revenue in the Contemporary Music category decreased by 7.9%, from $478m in 2015 to $440m in 2016. Despite the decline in revenue, attendance slightly increased by 1.9% from 5.6m in 2015 to 5.7m in 2016. Contemporary Music revenue has declined each year since 2013, decreasing by 30% between 2013 and 2016. In the same period attendance has decreased by 9.7%. In 2016 the average ticket price decreased by 11.4% from $96.38 in 2015 to $85.35. The average ticket price has continued to decrease each year since 2013 when the average ticket price peaked at $110.50, declining by 22.8% between 2013 and 2016.

Contemporary Music still generates the largest live performance market share of revenue (30.8%) and attendance (30.1%). However, comparatively at its peak in 2010 Contemporary Music commanded a 49.6% market share of revenue and 40.8% market share of attendance.

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 2016 included Coldplay, Prince, Selena Gomez, Black Sabbath, Kendrick Lamar and Madonna. Local acts that performed included Flume, Crowded House, Keith Urban, Delta Goodrem and Troye Sivan. The decrease in Contemporary Music revenue is primarily due to a number of prominent acts with arena or stadium tours that attracted large crowds and toured to all five major cities in 2015 that did not return in 2016, such as AC/DC, Fleetwood Mac, Foo Fighters, Ed Sheeran and One Direction. Additionally, many of the high-profile international acts that toured Australia in 2016 only performed in up to three major capital cities (Sydney, Melbourne and/or Brisbane) including Coldplay, Prince, Selena Gomez, Kendrick Lamar and Madonna.

NSW and ACT were the only states that experienced an increase in Contemporary Music revenue by 2.8% and 102.3% respectively. High-profile artists including Delta Goodrem, Rob Thomas and Morrissey contributed to the growth in revenue in ACT. NSW had the highest share of revenue at $157.6m (35.8% market share).

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

Close Table

Contemporary Music - Revenue and Attendance (2004–2016)

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%

*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 (2016)

State/Territory Revenue ($) Market Share Proportion Change from 2015 Attendance Market Share Proportion Change from 2015
NSW $157,626,354 35.8% 2.8% 1,909,137 33.7% 9.3%
VIC $129,677,372 29.5% -6.4% 1,546,191 27.3% 1.4%
QLD $69,265,321 15.7% -6.9% 955,483 16.9% 0.4%
WA $46,200,547 10.5% -34.5% 684,709 12.1% -15.8%
SA $26,999,437 6.1% -20.0% 411,954 7.3% 3.4%
ACT $7,097,245 1.6% 102.3% 90,544 1.6% 54.5%
TAS $2,200,935 0.5% -8.9% 44,393 0.8% 13.4%
NT $1,016,419 0.2% -21.8% 16,342 0.3% -25.3%

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