MusicSA Releases Report on the Economic Contributions of the SA Music SCene
A new report shows that although the SA music industry is generating more money now than it did almost a decade ago, the impact of COVID-19 still lingers.
Image by Nathan Mullet
A new report released by MusicSA details the resilience and growth of South Australia’s music scene, with a reported $490 million contributed by the music sector during 2022/2023.
Prepared by by BDOEconSearch, and supported by the Music Development Office, the City of Adelaide, and Festival City ADL, the new report, entitled, The Economic Contribution of the Music Industry to South Australia, 2022/23, is the first of its kind since 2017.
The report delves into the impact COVID-19 had on SA’s music industry and live scene while also detailing the way the industry has bounced back despite the challenges. Key takeaways from the report include the music industry’s contribution of $490 million to the state’s gross revenue, up from $375 million in 2015/16, along with employment within the industry rising from 6,300 jobs in 2015/2016 to 9,200 in 2022/2023.
While these numbers are positive, everyone is aware the live music scene continues to struggle, with venue closures, increased insurance premiums and the cost of living crisis all impacting the industry. To combat these issues, the report emphasises the urgent need for the government and the private sector to invest heavily in South Australia’s music scene so that it continues to thrive.
READ MORE: Why We All Need Live Music
Image via MusicSA (Morgan Sette)
One of the key points the report addresses is the impact COVID-19 had on the local music industry and how despite government grants, several venues closed and many artists struggled to make a living during that period. The report also looks at the post-pandemic boom that has quickly faded due to rising operating costs, labour shortages, and increased event insurance premiums, and how more money needs to be injected into the music scene of Australia’s only UNESCO City of Music.
Other issues raised by the report include the cultural shift in the way music is consumed, with Spotify and TikTok changing the way people listen to music, Adelaide’s struggle to attract big-name international and national touring acts and the need for targeted investment in SA’s music scene to keep it sustainable.
Music SA CEO, Christine Schloithe, says of the report: “It’s been ten years since any real research on the value of South Australia’s music industry has been undertaken and the results are remarkable! This report shows just how resilient and tenacious the South Australian industry music industry is, even in the face of a global pandemic and the toughest business conditions on record.
South Australia, without question, is the home of untapped music talent and potential - imagine what this industry could achieve locally and globally if it was invested in properly to leverage its growth and success?”
South Australian Minister for Arts, Andrea Michaels MP adds: “The Malinauskas Government supported Music SA to undertake this research and deliver this report because we know how important music is to our state.
“Since coming to government, we have invested millions to support artists and live music venues and as this report demonstrates, that has assisted them to recover from the impacts of the pandemic. We will continue to ensure the South Australian music industry has a bright future in South Australia.”
As far as what we can do as fans of music to help the industry, our best advice is to get along to as many local gigs as possible and buy physical copies of albums or band merch. And if you’re unsure how to get more out of your gigging experience, we have you covered with our little guide on this exact topic here.
A summary of The Economic Contribution of the Music Industry to South Australia, 2022/23 report can be found here.
