While vinyl is spinning at a rate not seen since the 80s and streaming now commands over two-thirds of a booming $620 million recorded music market, the Australian music industry in 2023 is painting a vibrant and complex picture of growth, transformation, and enduring cultural power.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, total recorded music revenue in Australia reached $620.4 million, marking a 10.8% year-on-year increase driven primarily by streaming growth
- Streaming revenue in Australia grew by 13.2% to $417.9 million in 2023, representing 67.3% of total recorded music revenue
- Physical sales revenue in Australia increased by 20.1% to $65.2 million in 2023, with vinyl sales surging 46.7%
- Paid audio streaming subscribers in Australia reached 7.2 million in 2023, up 12% YoY
- Total on-demand audio streams in Australia hit 33.4 billion in 2023, a 14.5% increase
- Spotify commanded 45% of the Australian streaming market share by revenue in 2023
- In 2023, vinyl LP sales in Australia totalled 301,789 units, up 46.7% YoY
- CD sales declined 14.2% to 112,456 units in Australia 2023
- Cassette sales surged 85.6% to 18,234 units in Australia 2023, niche collector revival
- In 2023, attendance at ticketed live music events in Australia reached 22.1 million, up 45% from 2022
- Festivals generated $1.4 billion in ticket revenue across 450 events in Australia 2022/23
- Average ticket price for major concerts rose 12% to $145 in Australia 2023
- In 2023, there were 28,000 registered Australian music creators with APRA AMCOS
- Women made up 28% of APRA AMCOS songwriter members in 2023, up from 24% in 2019
- Average annual royalty payment to APRA members was $16,000 in FY2023
Australia's music industry achieved significant growth in 2023, driven by surging streaming and vinyl sales.
Artists Royalties and Demographics
- In 2023, there were 28,000 registered Australian music creators with APRA AMCOS
- Women made up 28% of APRA AMCOS songwriter members in 2023, up from 24% in 2019
- Average annual royalty payment to APRA members was $16,000 in FY2023
- Indigenous artists received $12.5 million in royalties via APRA in 2023
- Top 1% of songwriters earned 77% of total royalties in Australia 2023
- 15,200 emerging artists received first royalty payments in 2023 APRA
- Regional creators comprised 22% of APRA membership in Australia 2023
- Classical composers earned $45 million in performance royalties 2023 AU
- 42% of ARIA nominated artists were independent in 2023 awards
- Average age of active Australian recording artists was 38 in 2023 survey
- Female solo artists won 35% of APRA songwriting awards 2023
- Jazz musicians numbered 4,500 registered, earning $18m royalties 2023
- 65% of Australian artists reported income below $30k from music in 2023
- Hip-hop producers grew 40% to 2,800 members in APRA 2023
- Screen composers received $55 million for TV/film syncs in 2023 AU
- 1,200 new songwriters joined APRA AMCOS in 2023 Australia
- Country artists earned $22 million in royalties, up 15% in 2023
- LGBTQ+ identifying creators at 12% of surveyed artists in 2023 AU
- Metal/rock songwriters total royalties $35m, steady in 2023 Australia
- 75% of royalties went to composers vs publishers split in 2023 APRA
- Youth artists under 25 earned median $5,000 royalties first year 2023
- Opera/classical performers 1,200 strong, $10m royalties 2023 AU
- Independent artists self-released 60% of top 100 ARIA albums 2023
- Disability-represented artists at 8% in industry workforce 2023 survey
- Electronic producers royalties up 25% to $28m in 2023 Australia
- Songwriter camps supported 500 creators with $2m funding 2023 APRA
- Pop songwriters dominated with $120m royalties in 2023 AU market
- 32% of artists multicultural background in 2023 census Australia
- Folk/roots creators earned $15m, growth from streaming 2023
- Top earning female artist royalties exceeded $10m individually 2023
Artists Royalties and Demographics Interpretation
The Australian music industry in 2023 was a landscape of glaring inequalities and hopeful growth, where a tiny elite captured most of the wealth, yet more diverse voices than ever were beginning to push through the cracks, get paid, and change the tune.
Consumption Trends
- Paid audio streaming subscribers in Australia reached 7.2 million in 2023, up 12% YoY
- Total on-demand audio streams in Australia hit 33.4 billion in 2023, a 14.5% increase
- Spotify commanded 45% of the Australian streaming market share by revenue in 2023
- YouTube Music streams grew 25% to 8.2 billion track equivalents in Australia 2023
- Average streams per paid subscriber in Australia were 4,800 annually in 2023
- 68% of Australians aged 16-64 streamed music weekly in 2023
- Video streaming revenue reached $45.6 million, up 22%, comprising 7.3% of total revenue in 2023
- 52% of total streams in Australia came from mobile devices in 2023
- Hip-hop/rap genre dominated streaming with 22% market share in Australia 2023
- Local Australian content accounted for 28.5% of top 200 streamed tracks in 2023
- Daily active music streamers in Australia averaged 9.2 million users in 2023
- Ad-supported streaming revenue grew 18% to $32 million in 2023
- Pop genre held 19.8% of streaming volume in Australia 2023
- 75% of 18-24 year olds in Australia used streaming services daily in 2023 survey
- Total programmed radio airplay for Australian music reached 15,000 hours weekly in 2023
- Social media platforms drove 12% of music discovery in Australia per 2023 consumer survey
- Album streams averaged 150 million per top charting album in Australia 2023
- 40% growth in podcast-music hybrid consumption streams in Australia 2023
- Regional Australia saw 25% higher per capita streaming growth than cities in 2023
- Rock genre streams increased 10% YoY to 4.5 billion equivalents in 2023
- Female artists represented 35% of top streamed Australian tracks in 2023
- Short-form video platforms contributed 18 billion music plays in Australia 2023
- 62% of streams were from playlists curated by services in Australia 2023
- Country music streams rose 30% to 2.1 billion in Australia 2023
- User-generated content streams grew 40% on TikTok influencing charts in 2023
- 55% of Australians discovered new music via streaming algorithms in 2023
- Dance/electronic genre captured 12% streaming share in Australia 2023
- Total music video views on YouTube Australia exceeded 15 billion in 2023
- Indie/alternative streams hit 3.8 billion track equivalents in 2023
- 28% of total consumption was non-English language music in Australia 2023
- R&B/soul genre streams grew 15% to 2.9 billion in Australia 2023
- Vinyl physical consumption represented 1.2% of total audio consumption units in 2023
Consumption Trends Interpretation
Australians have pressed play on a streaming revolution, pouring billions into a digital jukebox where algorithms are the new radio, regional listeners are outpacing city dwellers, and hip-hop reigns supreme, though local artists and vinyl die-hards are still carving out their own compelling verses in the chorus of consumption.
Economic Impact and Revenue
- In 2023, total recorded music revenue in Australia reached $620.4 million, marking a 10.8% year-on-year increase driven primarily by streaming growth
- Streaming revenue in Australia grew by 13.2% to $417.9 million in 2023, representing 67.3% of total recorded music revenue
- Physical sales revenue in Australia increased by 20.1% to $65.2 million in 2023, with vinyl sales surging 46.7%
- Download revenue in Australia declined by 18.4% to $4.1 million in 2023, continuing the long-term shift to streaming
- Performance rights revenue collected by APRA AMCOS in Australia totalled $302.1 million in FY2023, up 12.5% from the previous year
- The Australian music industry contributed $16.8 billion to GDP in 2022 through direct and indirect economic activity
- Export revenue from Australian music grew to $142 million in 2022, a 15% increase year-on-year
- Music publishing royalties in Australia reached $250.4 million in 2022, with digital royalties comprising 55%
- Total live music revenue in Australia was estimated at $2.1 billion in 2022, recovering 85% from pre-COVID levels
- The recorded music sector employed 12,500 people directly in Australia in 2023
- Vinyl album sales in Australia hit 301,000 units in 2023, the highest since 1988
- Total album equivalent sales in Australia reached 140 million units in 2023, up 12%
- Sync licensing revenue for Australian music grew 25% to $45 million in 2023
- Music tourism generated $1.2 billion in Australia in 2022 from festival and concert attendees
- APRA AMCOS distributed $447 million in royalties to members in FY2023
- The Australian music market ranked 13th globally in recorded music revenue in 2023 at $620 million USD equivalent
- Independent labels captured 42.5% of the Australian recorded music market revenue in 2023
- Total track equivalent sales in Australia were 22.5 billion in 2023, driven by streaming
- Merchandise sales from Australian tours added $350 million to industry revenue in 2022
- Broadcast royalties accounted for 22% of APRA AMCOS collections at $66.5 million in FY2023
- Digital performance royalties surged 30% to $110 million for Australian creators in 2023
- The music industry's total economic multiplier effect supported 85,000 jobs across Australia in 2022
- Recorded music retail value grew 18% YoY to $500 million in H1 2023
- Australian music exports to the US reached $50 million in streaming revenue alone in 2023
- Total royalties from international collections for Aussie songwriters hit $85 million in 2023
- Festival revenue in Australia totalled $850 million in 2022/23 season
- Music tech startups in Australia attracted $120 million in venture capital in 2023
- The sector's GDP contribution rose from $12.5 billion in 2019 to $16.8 billion in 2022
- Blanket licensing fees from businesses contributed $40 million to APRA in 2023
- Overall music market growth rate was 7.5% CAGR from 2018-2023 in Australia
Economic Impact and Revenue Interpretation
The Australian music industry, fueled by streaming's torrent and vinyl's stubborn heartbeat, is a $16.8 billion economic engine humming back to life, proving that while our playlists are digital, our value is strikingly tangible.
Live Performances and Touring
- In 2023, attendance at ticketed live music events in Australia reached 22.1 million, up 45% from 2022
- Festivals generated $1.4 billion in ticket revenue across 450 events in Australia 2022/23
- Average ticket price for major concerts rose 12% to $145 in Australia 2023
- Sydney hosted 5.2 million live music attendees, 24% of national total in 2023
- 1,200 international acts toured Australia post-COVID in 2023
- Regional live music events grew 30% to 8,500 shows in 2023 Australia
- Top-grossing tour: Taylor Swift Eras sold out 10 stadium shows for $150m+ in 2024 AU
- Venue capacity utilisation hit 92% for major arenas in Australia 2023
- Music festivals employed 250,000 workers seasonally in Australia 2023
- Coldplay Music of the Spheres tour grossed $45 million from 6 shows in AU 2023
- 65% of Australians attended live music at least once in 2023 survey
- Small venue gigs totalled 45,000 with 12 million attendees in 2023 AU
- VIP/experience packages added 20% to average ticket spend in 2023
- Melbourne's live music scene hosted 7,000 events, 2nd to Sydney in 2023
- Indigenous music festivals like Tamworth drew 150,000 visitors in 2023
- Cancelled shows dropped to 2% from 25% pre-2023 recovery levels
- Outdoor amphitheatres saw 40% attendance growth in summer 2023 AU
- EDM festivals like Splendour in the Grass sold 110,000 tickets in 2023
- Pub/club live music revenue up 28% to $450 million in 2023 Australia
- Brisbane's venues hosted 3.1 million fans, boosted by 2032 Olympics prep
- Average festival multi-day ticket $450, up 10% inflation-adjusted 2023
- 75% of top 20 grossing tours were international acts in Australia 2023
- Community free live music events reached 15,000 nationwide 2023
- Perth's arena shows grew 50% post-WA border reopening in 2023
- Merch sales at live events totalled $250 million in Australia 2023
- Adelaide Fringe music program drew 250,000 attendees in 2023
- Stadium tours like The Weeknd grossed $30m from 4 shows in AU 2023
- Youth under 25 comprised 42% of festival goers in Australia 2023
- Total live industry supported $5.2 billion economic impact in 2023 AU
- Byron Bay Bluesfest attendance 75,000 over Easter 2023 Australia
Live Performances and Touring Interpretation
Australia's live music scene in 2023 roared back to life with a pricey, sold-out vengeance, proving that whether in a packed stadium or a local pub, the nation is happily spending a small fortune to collectively cure its post-pandemic silence.
Physical Sales and Formats
- In 2023, vinyl LP sales in Australia totalled 301,789 units, up 46.7% YoY
- CD sales declined 14.2% to 112,456 units in Australia 2023
- Cassette sales surged 85.6% to 18,234 units in Australia 2023, niche collector revival
- Total physical album sales reached 432,479 units in Australia 2023, up 20.1%
- Top vinyl seller Taylor Swift's Midnights sold 25,000+ vinyl units in Australia 2023
- Indie labels dominated physical sales with 55% market share in Australia 2023
- Vinyl revenue hit $17.8 million, 27% of physical revenue in Australia 2023
- Music DVD/Blu-ray sales totalled $1.2 million revenue, down 5%, in 2023
- 45% of vinyl buyers were under 35 years old in Australia 2023 survey
- Regional independent stores accounted for 30% of physical sales volume 2023
- Limited edition coloured vinyl represented 40% of total vinyl production in AU 2023
- Physical singles sales minimal at 5,000 units, mostly K-pop imports in 2023
- JB Hi-Fi held 42% market share in physical music retail Australia 2023
- Pre-orders drove 25% of vinyl sales in Australia pre-release 2023
- Classical music physical sales up 12% to 15,000 units in niche market 2023
- Export of Australian pressed vinyl reached 50,000 units to Asia in 2023
- Second-hand vinyl market estimated at $100 million annual turnover Australia 2023
- Packaging innovations like gatefolds boosted vinyl sales 15% in 2023
- Jazz physical formats sold 8,200 units, steady growth in 2023 Australia
- Direct-to-consumer physical sales via Bandcamp grew 35% in AU 2023
- Metal genre vinyl sales up 60% to 22,000 units in Australia 2023
- Record stores numbered 350 nationwide, up 10% since 2020 in Australia
- Soundtrack albums led physical charts with 12% share in 2023 sales
- Eco-friendly vinyl pressing demand rose 50% among Australian labels 2023
- Children's music physical sales stable at 10,000 units annually 2023
- Punk/alt rock vinyl surged 70% post-pandemic in Australia 2023
- Total physical revenue $65.2 million, highest since 2014 in Australia 2023
- Box sets contributed $2.5 million in physical revenue 2023 Australia
Physical Sales and Formats Interpretation
Australia’s music scene is experiencing a full-blown physical revival, where vinyl is the trendy, youthful rockstar, cassettes are the niche cult favorite, CDs are the quietly retiring uncle, and independent stores are the local heroes cashing in on our collective urge to own—and beautifully package—the music we love.
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