It turns out your fine arts degree was good for something – take that, dad!
According to new researched dropped today by Music Australia, education has been revealed to be one of the biggest economic drivers in the industry.
Music education has officially emerged as one of the strongest pillars of Australia’s contemporary music industry, generating a massive $1.79 billion in revenue and contributing more to the economy than live performance itself.
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According to Music Australia’s latest edition of The Bass Line and its companion report More Than Notes on a Page, released today, the education sector is delivering serious economic and cultural value at a time when artists and small venues are feeling the squeeze.
The comprehensive research shows Australia’s entire music industry reached $10.76 billion in revenue in 2024–25, contributing $4.28 billion in direct Gross Value Added (GVA) to the national economy.
While overall revenue grew 5.2%, artist incomes lagged significantly at just 0.9% growth, highlighting ongoing pressures around costs, streaming, and live music sustainability.
The reports paint music education – spanning instrumental training, production, composition, business skills and more – as a vital part of the industry value chain. It not only drives economic impact but also builds lifelong audiences and future pathways for artists.
Music Australia Director Millie Millgate emphasised that consistent data is revealing clear patterns: “The consumption of Australian music by Australian audiences is directly connected to artist revenue growth.”
The research also notes that while major festivals and venues are growing, grassroots live spaces continue to face challenges, with AI emerging as a fast-moving disruptor.
As the only annual deep-dive into the economics of Australian music, The Bass Line provides crucial evidence for industry leaders, policymakers and investors.
In a landscape where independent artists are working harder for less, the findings reinforce what many in the scene have long suspected – investing in music education isn’t just culturally important, it’s economically essential.
Read the report here.
