The live music industry forms a critical part of Australia’s wider cultural and creative industries which contribute $21.8 billion to Australia's Gross Domestic Product and employ nearly 500,000 people.

This report is the outcome of an inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry, including its sustainability, barriers to growth and consumer behaviours. Issues discussed in the evidence included: 

• increased costs – such as insurance and travel – and risks of doing business, as well as unpredictable ticket sales and low or declining earnings
• many artists, live music venues and festivals struggling to make money and attract audiences
• new technology (such as algorithms) changing how audiences access and consume music, which in turn has disrupted business models and impacted on how revenue is generated and shared.

The report makes a range of recommendations aimed at strengthening the live music industry, including:

• introducing a tax offset
• increasing funding for small venues and grassroots live music
• monitoring the industry for anti-competitive activities
• incentivising gig attendance by younger audiences
• developing 'special entertainment precincts' and live music infrastructure
• improving music education in schools
• investigating the viability of a self-insurance model
• re-evaluating the need for strong police presence at live music events
• researching business models that do not depend on alcohol sales.