The Bass Line establishes the first nationally consistent methodology and analysis of the direct economic contribution of Australia’s music industry. It provides:

• a definition of Australia’s music industry suitable for the purpose of economic analysis
• a credible methodology to estimate direct economic contribution now and over time
• estimates of the direct economic contribution, direct employment, and value of export revenues of the Australian music industry

The study finds that the Australian music industry generated revenues of $8.78 billion andcontributed $2.82 billion in direct gross value added, or GVA, to the Australian economy in 2023-24.

It also shows strong international demand for Australian music with music exports contributing an estimated $975 million to the total Australian music industry revenue.

The Bass Line also estimates the economic contribution of music industry subsectors in 2023-24: 

• Live music performance contributed $4.83 billion in revenue and $1.44 billion in direct GVA
• Music recording, production, label services and distribution contributed $790 million in revenue and $350 million in direct GVA
• Composition, songwriting and music publishing contributed $470 million in revenue and $155 million in direct GVA.
• Artist Management contributed $195 million in revenue and $92 million in direct GVA.
• Music retail contributed $2.73 billion in revenue and $515 million in direct GVA

The report brings together hundreds of thousands of data points, including data from industry, government, and over 1,000 individuals and businesses working across the music industry. We acknowledge and thank the many government agencies, peak bodies, and industry collecting organisations whose insights allowed us to better understand the industry’s value chain and existing data collection.

The Bass Line was commissioned by Music Australia and undertaken by McAtamney & Advisors.