Australasia News: Queensland Venues Record; U.S. Acts Head To Festivals; Concert Royalty Split Delayed

AUSTRALIA

Stadiums Queensland Venues Draw Record

Stadiums Queensland’s nine venues drew a record 4.9 million patrons through the 2022-23 financial year to 178 major events.

The nine, valued at A$3.7 billion ($2.36 billion), contributed A$1.1 billion ($702 million) to the Queensland economy, directly supporting 4,670 full-time equivalent jobs, and an additional 3,741 FTE jobs through flow-on activity.

Chair Cathy McGuane said, “The last 12 months … have been busy with events now that the state is finally fully open for the first time in three years.”

With the steady stream of international A1 acts, Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium was allowed to double its annual concert shows to 12 in 2023 and 2024. Three Ed Sheeran shows broke its attendance record with a total of 173,387 fans.

Brisbane Entertainment Centre hosted 550,000 fans and 43 main arena shows, Heritage Bank Stadium drew a record 49,957 to Harry Styles’ only Queensland concert, and Cbus Super Stadium’s debut concert, by KISS, had 13,200.

U.S. Acts Head To Festivals Down Under

Festivalgoers are in for a huge intake of U.S. music. The 17th CMC Rocks Queensland, expected to draw 23,000 to Ipswich Speedway March 15-17, has 17 American acts; Lainey Wilson (on her first visit), Tyler Hubbard and Chris Young are headliners.

“CMC Rocks has always been about bringing the global country music community together,” co-founder Michael Chugg said.

The 35th Bluesfest Byron Bay’s second artist announce for Easter 2024 included Tedeschi Trucks Band, Taj Mahal and Rickie Lee Jones. The Gold Coast’s Groundwater, which attracted 20,000 last year, celebrates its 10th anniversary Oct. 20-22 across 15 stages, has Asleep at the Wheel and the emerging Jackson Dean.

Survey Shows Demand For Music Venues

A new survey of live music fans found 85 percent of respondents attend four music events a year. In the next six months, 93 percent will catch a music show, compared with 27 percent heading for a sports event.

With such enthusiasm, it was not surprising that almost half (43 percent) grumbled there are not enough live music venues in their area.

The figure was 75 percent in regional areas, where the biggest beef was the distance travelled to events, and 55 percent in metropolitan localities.

A high rate (74 percent) enjoyed the atmosphere at outdoor concerts.

Issues of concern were affordability, accessibility and safety, with 40 percent of women revealing they’ve felt unsafe at a live music event.

Also high on the irritation list were toilet queues, 47 percent for females and 27 percent for males.

The survey was conducted by themusic.com.au magazine and commissioned by Cedar Mill Group, which is developing major entertainment and tourism hubs across the country.

Concert Royalty Split Delayed

Plans by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) to amend its major concert royalty payments from November, to 80 percent for headliners and 20 percent for support acts, are delayed 12 months.

It was in “alignment with other countries and collecting societies.” But artist managers argued there would be less money for support acts.

APRA said the November deadline “did not take into consideration negotiations on guaranteed fees for support acts that were underway prior to the announcement (in May 2023).”

NEW ZEALAND

Forsyth Barr Stadium Makes $32.5M For Dunedin

Figures by Dunedin City Holdings Ltd. for the 2023 financial year showed music and sports events at the Forsyth Barr Stadium contributed NZ$32.5 million ($19.4 million) to Dunedin’s economy.

They drew 47,500 visitors from across New Zealand and overseas. The venue has a seated capacity of 30,748 for sports events and 36,000 for concerts that included Red Hot Chili Peppers with Post Malone, Rod Stewart and Six60.

Dunedin Venues, which runs the stadium, recorded a profit of NZ$80,000 ($47,875).