Australasia News: NSW Festival Aid; Asia Pop Demand; Country Fests Rise; NZ: Stadium Report

AUSTRALIA

NSW Offers Two-Year Festival Relief Package

The New South Wales government offered festivals with capacities of 15,000 or more an emergency relief package of A$500,000 ($340,228) over the next two years as some struggle with operational costs, exorbitant insurance premiums and lower ticket sales.

Significant reforms made to the NSW Music Festivals Act aimed to reduce restrictions and costs, prioritise the health and safety of festivalgoers, and the economic sustainability of events.

The reforms had their critics. “It’s not enough money to bail out a sector that is facing extinction,” said Bluesfest director Peter Noble. Bluesfest 2024 injected A$130.5 million ($88.7 million) into the NSW economy. Sister festivals Splendour In The Grass and Falls, both on hiatus, generated A$41.4 million ($28.1 million).

Promoters told Pollstar the government failed to tackle head-on the high rental charges for security. These were 12 times more than what is charged in other states and estimated to add A$30 ($20.40) or A$40 ($27.20) to ticket prices.

LN Report Shows Greater Asia Pop Demand

A new Live Nation report shows a greater demand in Australia and New Zealand for Asia pop tours, with 2024 being its biggest year.

Its fan insights study Future Sound showed LN posted a 600% increase in shows and a 275% surge in number of acts from 2015 to 2024.

TikTok Australia reported 61 million K-pop views by fans in the last 12 months alone.

Nine in 10 Asia Pop fans engage with the established K-pop, J-pop and C-pop, and the emerging Mandopop, Thai Pop and City Pop.

Mostly female, 35% of its local audiences are aged 27-48. About 98% listen to music in non-English languages even if English is the main language at home, and 94% believe brands should support the Asian community more.

Wenona Lok, Asia Pop promoter and talent buyer at Live Nation Australasia, said, “The unparalleled energy for Asian Pop live events in our market is reshaping fan expectations and opening new avenues for growth.

“Industry players who recognise and adapt to this phenomenon now will be at the forefront of a new era in music and entertainment.”

Over October and November, LN is touring K-pop’s Stray Kids in stadiums, Japanese virtual pop star Hatsune Miku, South Korean indie HYUKOH and Taipei-based jazzy synth-pop band Sunset Rollercoaster.

Strong Turnouts For Country Festivals

Country music festivals continue to appeal. CMC Rocks (Willowbank Speedway, March 21-23) again sold out its 23,000 tickets six months out.

“People love coming there because we take care of the fans and the acts,” co-founder Michael Chugg told Pollstar. “American names come out here for the first time and they’re blown away by the audience singing along to every song.”

Headliners include Cody Johnson, making his festival debut, Jon Pardi and Thomas Rhett.
The Gympie Muster broke its attendance record with 50,000 visitors to the Amamoor Creek State Forest in Queensland over three days in August, compared with 40,000 attendance last year.

NEW ZEALAND

Update From The Toangaroa Stadium Consortium

Auckland council will make a decision in 2025 on the city’s next stadium – whether to upgrade Eden Park 2.1 to a 60,000 capacity and two new grandstands or tap a consortium led by HKS to build the waterfront Te Toangaroa Stadium (Quay Park).

Members of the Te Toangaroa Stadium consortium flew from the U.S. and Australia to update stakeholders on progress.

The idea is to create a precinct on 15 hectares with a 50,000-seat, U-shaped stadium with retractable roof, hotels, bars, retail and commercial spaces, apartments, education and health facilities.