Photo Credit: Bluefest
Bluefest’s success has been attributed to its loyal fan base and due to the fact that the festival was marketed as potentially the last Bluefest—driving ticket sales. A look at the data shows that only 56% of Australian music festivals were profitable in the 2022-2023 financial year, while 35% operated at a loss and 8% broke even.
The 2024-2025 festival season saw the cancellation of major music festivals including Splendour in the Grass, Groovin The Moo, Coastal Jam, Falls Festival and Souled Out—among many others. Organizers for these festivals cite financial instability, rising costs, and insufficient ticket sales to continue supporting large music festivals.
The live music scene demographics are also changing. Whereas music festivals were previously geared toward young people (18-24), there has been a drastic decline in ticket purchases from this demographic. That demo made up 41% of ticket sales in 2018-2019, but just 27% in 2022-2023. Attendees are also waiting longer to buy tickets, leading to increased uncertainty for organizers.
The success of Bluefest stands as an exception rather than the rule, with its director previously warning of an extinction event for live music. So what is the Australian government doing to help out? So far, the government has committed a total of $25 million over the next two years to extend the Revive Live program. This program provides targeted grants to majority Australian-owned live music venues and festivals that showcase Australian talent. This funding includes $7.8 million already delivered, $8.6 million in the 2025-26 budget, and an additional $16.4 million announced in April 2025.
Since the pandemic, over 1,300 live music stages have closed in Australia, impacting jobs and local economies. The funding is seen as essential to stabilize the sector, create more performance opportunities, and help the live music industry recover and grow.
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Australia's Bluefest Clocks 109K Attendees, Third-Largest Ever – Digital Music News
