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The newly established Sound NSW - a part of Create NSW - commissioned Ethos Urban to undertake a first-of-its-kind census of live music in NSW delivered via the report ‘State of the Scene’.

The first State of the Scene report confirms there are now 795 live venues areas across NSW - including 55 dedicated live music venues, 453 regular and ongoing venues, 56 large-scale multipurpose venues and 231 venues that offer live music as an ancillary function.

The research found live music provides 25,000 jobs and contributes an economic output of $5.5 billion to the NSW economy

Create NSW is the NSW Government’s driver of arts and culture. As part of Create NSW, Sound NSW was formed to lead the revival of the live music sector across the state, in response to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and former ‘lockout laws’, and to support an increasing number of live music venues across the state.

Sound NSW now carries out the objectives in Creative Communities (the NSW Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy 2024–2033), supporting artists, cultural organisations, and creative industries through an inclusive ten-year framework.

Within this context the State of the Scene report was commissioned. The purpose was to understand the current state of the live music industry and to provide guidance on how to support the industry to prosper in years to come.

The State of the Scene report provides an important baseline for the sector and for the NSW Government to continue to build upon.

This research will inform NSW’s first ever Contemporary Music Strategy, to be developed in 2024.

The extensive program of research undertaken for the report was via using surveys with the live music industry and members of the NSW population; in-depth engagement with industry through interviews and focus groups; and reviews of industry publications and economic data sources.

The State of the Scene report acted as the first-ever census of live music in NSW, using feedback from 750 industry participants and 550 members of the public who attend live music gigs.

Feedback from industry in the development of the inaugural State of the Scene report also revealed several barriers to growth for the sector, including:

• a high-cost environment impacting financial viability of live music venues, including cost-of-living pressure for audiences
• regulatory red tape reducing operating capacity of venues
• expensive pricing and security environments for venue operators
• changing audience behaviours and fragmented media landscape
• complex government policy and grant schemes
• lack of mid-career growth opportunities and reduction in youth live music spaces and all ages events
• access and inclusivity
• public transportation.

The 2024 to 2025 Budget will build on the NSW Government’s commitment to building better, more vibrant communities, with more than $45.4 million in funding for strategic support for artists and live venues through funding to Sound NSW and the Office of the 24-Hour Commissioner.

The Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner will receive $26.9 million to empower the night-time economy industry and local councils through regulatory reform, grants programs, precinct-based initiatives, digital tools and other support to help create diverse, safe, and vibrant communities across NSW.

This will enable the Office to support communities and businesses across the state - those that make our cities lively and exciting, employ people and contribute to a culturally rich, diverse, inclusive, and innovative nightlife.

Sound NSW will continue to build and support the role that the contemporary music industry plays in the night-time economy, with $18.5 million to deliver programs that drive audience and international market development, strengthen the live music ecosystem and champion NSW artists and stories.

Combined, these investments will make it fairer and easier for businesses, artists, and communities to develop and support their music cultures and night-time precincts.

That means less red tape, reduced risk of getting shut down by unfair complaints and removing hidden costs to give certainty and to encourage communities and businesses to innovate.

Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy, John Graham noted "We have never known the full number of venues or had a clear picture of their economic impact of live music in NSW. Now we want to grow that number.

“What this shows is not only the number of venues that offer live music across the state, but the different types of venues and the important roles they play in their community, as well as the enormous social, economic impacts and jobs the industry provides.

“Without knowing this detail, it’s impossible to grow. This data will allow Government to better respond to industry and audience needs, and target bringing more venues online which may currently have the capacity to offer live music but aren’t doing so.

“Contemporary music and the night time economy are pivotal threads in the creative and economic fabric of our society. That is why we’re investing over $45 million into both music and the night-time economy in the 2024 to 2025 Budget.”

Access the State of the Scene report 

Image top: Cover of State of the Scene report; Image above: Statistics within the report. Credit: Sound NSW/NSW Government

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