Australia’s Bad Romance

Another week, another report on a cultural pillar, another cost of living conclusion. 

Music Australia’s ‘Listening In’ research series kicked off with an examination of live music event attendance, particularly among young Australians.

Extraordinarily for a generation that is chronically online, more than half of respondents don’t know where to find out about local gigs.

Somewhat less extraordinarily, cost is the biggest factor as prices for both tickets and accompanying beverages move a sweaty night in the moshpit further out of reach for many.

There is, however, always money in the banana stand to buy a ticket and watch global superstars on a huge screen from an even greater distance. Seeing acts like Oasis and Lady Gaga represent potentially once in a lifetime opportunities that help justify often exorbitant costs. 

While the FOMO is understandable, the cultural impact is significant. Without people spending money watching live music and drinking overpriced beer from plastic cups, pubs will turn to (even more) pokies to fill the revenue gap.

Now, this is not to imply Lady Gaga is to blame for the deterioration of an Australian rite of passage (although if the campaign to get Pitbull to Australia is successful, we’re much happier blaming him).

But something clearly needs to be done. There are myriad policy options, which lobby group Save Our Arts has been busy advocating for through the election campaign. 

The simplest solution, though, is surely to embrace personal responsibility by buying a ticket that doesn’t cost the earth for a band that doesn’t tour it. And for the Zoomers struggling for the right AI prompt, start with Crowbar, The Lansdowne, Mary’s Underground, and Enmore Theatre.