LPA Ticket Attendance and Revenue Survey 2016

Photo: Kinky Boots, Michael Cassel Group, Matthew Murphy

Festivals (Multi-Category)Click for more info

In 2016 Festivals (Multi-Category) ticket sales revenue decreased by 8.9%, from $62.2m in 2015 to $56.6m in 2016. Despite this decline in revenue, attendance increased slightly by 4.2% from 1.49m in 2015 to 1.55m in 2016. The average ticket price decreased by 21.4% from $50.32 in 2015 to $39.57 in 2016.

SA and WA generate the majority of revenue and attendance in this category, with a combined 63.3% market share of revenue and 75.3% of attendance in this category.

Festivals (Multi-Category) in SA experienced an increase in revenue of 38.7% and an increase in attendance of 12.1%. SA contributes the largest share of revenue (43.7%) and attendance (50.3%) in this category. Major festivals in SA include Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide Festival and WOMADelaide.

WA experienced an increase in revenue of 14% and an increase in attendance of 29.6% in Festivals (Multi-Category). WA contributes the second largest share of revenue (19.6%) and attendance (25%) in this category. Major festivals in WA include Fringe World Festival and Perth International Arts Festival.

In 2016 NSW, Victoria and Queensland experienced significant decreases in revenue (76%,44.2% and 25% respectively) and attendance (39.1%, 23.3% and 17.6% respectively), primarily due to a decrease in average ticket price for festivals held across all three states. Major festivals in these states include The Falls Music and Arts Festival, Melbourne Festival, Melbourne Fringe Festival, Sydney Festival and Brisbane Festival. MONA FOMA and Dark Mofo (Hobart) are also major festivals in this category.

The 2015 Survey did not include the revenue and attendance generated by the Fringe World Festival in 2015. To ensure the Report is comparing figures on a like for like basis EY has adjusted the 2015 revenue and attendance figures in the 2016 Report.

Close Table

Festivals (Multi-Category) - Revenue and Attendance (2004–2016)

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%
2015 $62,162,178 30.0% 1,486,599 40.3% $50.32 3.9%
2016 $56,641,751 -8.9% 1,549,007 4.2% $39.57 -21.4%

*Based on both paid and unpaid tickets

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

State/Territory Breakdown Close Table

Close Table

Festivals (Multi-Category) - by State/Territory (2016)

State/Territory Revenue ($) Market Share Proportion Change from 2015 Attendance Market Share Proportion Change from 2015
NSW $2,065,377 3.6% -76.0% 41,495 2.7% -39.1%
VIC $9,366,715 16.5% -44.2% 145,318 9.4% -23.3%
QLD $2,649,557 4.7% -25.0% 95,055 6.1% -17.6%
WA $11,077,097 19.6% 14.0% 387,491 25.0% 29.6%
SA $24,771,946 43.7% 38.7% 778,869 50.3% 12.1%
ACT $431,166 0.8% 4,037.9% 9,866 0.6% 1,994.7%
TAS $6,208,563 11.0% 16.8% 88,658 5.7% -20.1%
NT $71,330 0.1% -78.8% 2,255 0.1% -72.7%

Photo: FRINGE WORLD Festival 2016, Court McAllister

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