Australia Report: Trend To Live Shows

More Australians are going out to see live entertainment, according to new figures for the year 2005 from Live Performance Australia (LPA).

Figures for rock, pop and dance were $287.2 million, up 47.2 percent from 2004. The sector now accounts for a quarter of all tickets sold and 34.4 percent of industry revenue.

Musical theatre was 15 percent of ticket sales and contributed 21.3 percent of revenue, due to the success of homegrown shows including “Dirty Dancing” and “Dusty.”

LPA acting CEO Suzanne Daley-Carr is using these figures to tell Federal Arts Minister Rod Kemp about tax incentives for investors. She pointed out that the two major revenue earners take the most risk in terms of investment. The figures should also attract more private investment.

Overall, the live entertainment industry generated $834.3 million in gross revenue in 2005, up 21 percent on 2004. Audience numbers grew 17 percent to 13.7 million. The survey is based on ticket sales by ticketing companies such as Ticketek and the Australia Major Performing Arts Group companies including Opera Australia and state theatre companies. They did not include smaller music and arts events.

– Bryan Jones