The Bass Line 2nd edition

The Bass Line 2^nd edition was published in May 2026, updating estimates from the previous financial year. It found that the Australian music industry generated revenues of $10.76 billion and contributed $4.28 billion in direct gross value added, or GVA, to the Australian economy in 2024-25. 

Music exports contributed an estimated $1.08 billion (or about 10%) to the total Australian music industry revenue. 

The second edition also includes: 

• Analysis of the economic contribution of Music Education, which was a key data gap identified in the first edition;
• State and Territory breakdowns of the results;
• New spotlights to provide deep dive analysis into:
  • Insurance arrangements in the music industry;
  • The changing nature of Australian Country Music;
  • Current and emerging artificial intelligence (AI) applications, attitudes, threats, and opportunities across the music industry;
  • Long term impacts of music education and professional pathways; and
  • Local government’s role in Australia’s music industry. 

More Than Notes on a Page: The Music Education Ecosystem in Australia 

More Than Notes on a Page: The Music Education Ecosystem in Australia provides a deep dive analysis of the current state and direct economic contribution of Australia’s music education sector for the 2024-25 financial year. The report has been prepared as a companion to The Bass Line 2^nd Edition. 

The report is based on extensive research, sector engagement, and primary data collection, and is consistent with the overall methodological framework for The Bass Line. 

Analysis reveals that music education is an economic powerhouse, with $1.79 billon in revenue. Music education also contributes more to GVA than live performance (in addition to non-monetary contributions such as lifetime impacts, pathways, social impacts etc.).  

The results have been incorporated into The Bass Line 2^nd Edition and will continue to be extended and refined over time.