LPA Ticket Attendance and Revenue Report 2017

Photo: WOMADelaide 2017, Tony Lewis

Festivals (Contemporary Music)Click for more info

Festivals (Contemporary Music) infographic (PDF)

The Festivals (Contemporary Music) category experienced a significant increase in revenue by 26% to $100.7m and in attendance by 26.7% to 0.85m. The average ticket price increased by 0.9% to $126.68 in 2017. Festivals (Contemporary Music) contributed a share of 5.3% to the total live performance revenue and 3.7% to the total attendance. NSW generates the highest market share in revenue (54.7%) and attendance (45.9%) in Festivals (Contemporary Music).

NSW revenue in this category increased by 26.4% and attendance by 18.3%, primarily driven by growth in major festivals taking place in NSW including Splendour in the Grass, Bluesfest and Groovin’ the Moo. Queensland was the second highest contributor (after NSW) to this category, with a 13.7% share in revenue and 17.5% share in attendance. Queensland recorded a 47% increase in revenue and 44.6% increase in attendance in this category, primarily driven by growth in major festivals that take place in Queensland including CMC Rocks Qld, Gympie Muster and Groovin’ the Moo. ACT and Tasmania experienced significant growth in revenue (225.1% and 805.3% respectively) and attendance (158.2% and 233% respectively), primarily due to more events being recorded.

NT experienced a decline in revenue by 94.2% and by 96.2% in attendance in 2017. This is due to less events taking place or being reported for NT in 2017. Data was not provided for the Darwin based BASSINTHEGRASS festival, and attendance and revenue for Festival (Contemporary Music) will be lower as a result. Victoria also experienced a slight decline in revenue (5.1%) due to lower average ticket prices overall, despite an increase in attendance (42.9%) due to the growth in attendance of major festivals that take place in Victoria including St. Jerome’s Lane way Festival and Groovin’ the Moo. WA experienced slight declines in revenue (7.6%) and attendance (1.1%).

Close Table

Festivals (Contemporary Music) - Revenue and Attendance (2004–2017)

Revenue ($) Growth (%) Total Attendance* Growth (%) Average Ticket Price ($)** Growth (%)
2004 $9,015,128 190,260 $54.69
2005 $12,128,384 34.5% 269,208 41.5% $63.05 15.3%
2006 $36,576,877 201.6% 761,920 183.0% $50.93 -19.2%
2007 $26,972,082 -26.3% 753,247 -1.1% $39.00 -23.4%
2008 $66,429,106 146.3% 1,221,972 62.2% $60.91 56.2%
2009 $55,275,589 -16.8% 800,145 -34.5% $81.19 33.3%
2010 $100,918,020 82.6% 1,028,170 28.5% $119.39 47.1%
2011 $96,453,486 -4.4% 984,946 -4.2% $138.97 16.4%
2012 $98,365,490 2.0% 1,169,233 18.7% $128.71 -7.4%
2013 $107,367,780 9.2% 1,053,419 -9.9% $130.46 1.4%
2014 $129,210,058 20.3% 1,281,339 21.6% $136.91 4.9%
2015 $106,825,241 -17.3% 1,300,025 1.5% $117.72 -14.0%
2016 $79,865,326 -25.2% 672,771 -48.2% $125.60 6.7%
2017 $100,657,080 26.0% 852,628 26.7% $126.68 0.9%

*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 (Contemporary Music) - by State/Territory (2017)

State/Territory Revenue ($) Market Share Proportion Market Share Change from 2016 Attendance Market Share Proportion Market Share Change from 2016
NT $32,110 0.0% -0.7% 326 0.0% -1.2%
TAS $1,659,803 1.6% 1.4% 23,677 2.8% 1.7%
ACT $6,433,244 6.4% 3.9% 49,193 5.8% 2.9%
SA $3,116,202 3.1% 0.2% 37,794 4.4% -1.6%
WA $7,293,546 7.2% -2.6% 73,389 8.6% -2.4%
QLD $13,748,705 13.7% 1.9% 149,220 17.5% 2.2%
VIC $13,311,335 13.2% -4.3% 127,719 15.0% 1.7%
NSW $55,062,137 54.7% 0.2% 391,310 45.9% -3.3%

Photo: Gallant - Bluesfest 2017, Evan Malcolm

Individual Category Results