Aussie Promoters, Stadiums Cite Survey To Push For International Acts To Return

Among tours still on the slate are Guns N’ Roses and KISS for November, with Splendour In The Grass festival that month with headliners Gorillaz, The Strokes and Tyler, The Creator.

A new study commissioned by The Live Entertainment Industry Forum (LEIF) published July 22 found it was imperative that overseas attractions be allowed to re-enter the country if the sector was to survive financially. 

With Australian acts only making up 25% of radio play and record sales, the 35,000 in the LEIF survey considered international artists a “significant” or “very significant” factor in their decision to attend live events. 

Up to 80% wanted live events with larger crowd numbers to return this year. A high figure admitted not going to concerts affected their well-being. Only 5% would “not be impacted if live entertainment events did not return in 2021”.

Roger Field, president of Asia Pacific of Live Nation and LEIF co-chair, warned other global markets beginning to reopen were offering competition to Australia.

“So it is absolutely critical that we reach rapid alignment with federal and state & territory governments at National Cabinet level to ensure Australia does not miss out on this vital opportunity for the live entertainment industry to recover from the worst year in its long and storied history.”

The live sector is reluctant about vaccine passports and on-site tests for fear of patron backlash, and calling for shorter quarantine periods for overseas entourages, and a faster rate of vaccination to allow concerts the same crowd size as sporting events of up to 40,000.

TEG CEO Geoff Jones, LEIF co-chair, noted not only did internationals generate 80% of concert tix sales value, “they also generate the greatest economic benefit for our country through tourism, travel, hospitality, and other industries.”