The Australian music industry has suffered from a pervasive lack of data and research about our sector. We would significantly benefit from a more evidence-based and nuanced understanding of both the needs and opportunities available across the Australian music industry.  

Research helps to define the music industry’s place within the country’s cultural and economic framework and inform and influence current debate and decision making, particularly when its outcomes are widely adopted  

Thorough and ongoing major research projects will also underpin Music Australia’s work in a wider range of areas and provide much needed benchmarks.  

Music Australia has commissioned and is involved in research to survey the views of the Australian public on the music industry (perceptions, belief, values, behaviour and importance), that also includes targeted questions on their participation and consumption habits, to develop evidence-based investment strategies. 

Recent and upcoming research projects 

• Soundcheck: Australian music festivals, an analysis of Australian music festivals models and operations, Creative Australia (2024). 
• The Australian Music and Games 2023 Benchmark, conducted by Brendan Keogh (QUT) and Dan Golding (Swinburne University) and published in 2023. 
• Community Music Radio: Building the music-media ecosystem, a 3-year project funded by the Australian Research Council and based at Monash University, conducted in partnership with the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA), Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF) and APRA AMCOS (staged delivery 2023-2026).