Australasia News: Move To Ban Dynamic Ticket Pricing; Live Posts Records; Yours & Owls Expands; NZ: Council Assembles Advisory Panel

AUSTRALIA

Australia Moves To Ban Dynamic Pricing

The Australian government is moving to ban dynamic pricing, as part of a wider crackdown “to stop businesses from engaging in dodgy practices that rip consumers off,” prime minister Anthony Albanese said.

The practice was tolerated when restricted to VIP packages. But consumer backlash began as the practice widened. Recently, A$135.60 ($90.94) tickets for a Green Day show in Sydney sold for A$499.60 ($335.07).

It is expected to be law by early 2025, giving consumer protection agencies greater power to issue infringement notices or pursue penalties for breaches of consumer law.

The crackdown includes “drip pricing” with hidden fees and added prices through the process, and “subscription “traps” as confused and difficult ways to leave gym memberships, airline tickets, hotel rooms and online shopping.

Live Sector Posts Record Attendance, Revenue

Australia’s live sector hit record attendance and revenue last year, according to Live Performance Australia’s 2023 Ticket Attendance and Revenue Report issued Oct. 14.

Total revenue was A$3.1 billion ($2.07 billion) while ticketed attendance reached 30.1 million. The largest sector was contemporary music, with 12 million ticketed attendances (39.9% of market share) and A$1.5 billion ($1 billion) in ticket revenue (47.4% share). The average ticket price rose to A$128.21 ($85.98), up from A$87.01 ($65.06) in 2022.

Contemporary music festivals achieved more than two million attendances and A$355.1 million ($238.16 million) in revenue in 2023. Revenue growth was driven by a 12.4% increase in ticket prices, reflecting large increases in operating costs for the sector.

While attendance and revenue peaked in 2023, the pausing or cancellation of festivals in 2024 put the focus on challenges faced by promoters as well as cost of living impacts and changing preferences among audiences.

LPA chief exec Evelyn Richardson noted arts organisations remain under pressure. “For many, a ‘full house’ now means just breaking even, leaving little scope for reinvestment in new productions or rebuilding of financial reserves,” Richardson said.

In rights organisation APRA AMCOS’ annual review, also published mid-October, group revenue was up 7.2% to A$740 million ($496.3 million), including public performance and foreign royalties.

Yours And Owls Expands Nationally

Wollongong, NSW-based Yours and Owls expanded nationally, bringing in four additional venues to its booking roster.

These are Melbourne’s 845-capacity Thornbury Theatre; its first move into Victoria, the 500- to 1,500-capacity Sunshine Coast hub The Station, whose activities include concerts and skate parks; and the University of Technology Sydney’s 1,000-capacity The Loft On Broadway and 600-capacity The Underground.

NEW ZEALAND

Dunedin/Otepoti Assembles Music Advisory Panel

Dunedin/ Ōtepoti council is assembling a six-person Music Advisory Panel to support its live music action plan.

Adopted August 2023, its four keystones are to build musicians’ pathways to sustainable careers; provide audiences with a wide range of experiences; assist venues, promoters and organisations to deliver live music; and improve access to venues.

The Save Dunedin Live Music association, which pushed for the panel, said that while its own work is voluntary, it had issue with the fact council was not paying panel members.

It said, “We do, however, recognise the devaluing of creatives’ time and work, and it is a lot of work! We would also highlight the barriers to participation that can arise from unpaid positions, often excluding those in communities that may have less time and/or financial stability from participating.”