Catching up on everything that wrapped up the year of 2024!
PREDICTION 2025 #1: FESTIVAL PRICES UP.
With a wide array of costs rising, festival ticket prices will continue to lift against promoter’s wishes.
But, nervous about pricing out younger audiences, they will offer more tiered pricing, reward loyal patrons with Super Early Bird offers, and offer deals for under 21s, travel & accom deals and “budget” options for catering.
An October 2024 report from the Australian Institute noted that between 2005 and 2024, inflation rose 68% and wages up 75%.
Up In 19 Years
In that 19 year period, Bluesfest prices went up 204%, Groovin’ The Moo by 240%, Splendour 248% and Laneway 527%.
Promoters rightly stress that festivals are still good value, compared to prices for a 3-hour musical show or multi-day motor racing events.
PREDICTION 2025 #2: BAN ON TEEN POPSTARS?
There may be a growing call from within the music industry that teen popstars stop being signed unless there is a genuine commitment to prioritise their mental health in stardom’s glare.
The message was rammed home by last year’s suicides and the violent demise of Liam Payne at 31, who was 16 when One Direction got signed, and suffered mental health and self-medicated with drink and drugs to survive.
Negligent
It was a significant move when last week, an Argentinian court charged Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores – described as Payne’s personal manager or a businessman friend – with negligent homicide for leaving the star when he was in that state.
British songwriter Guy Chambers (who has worked with Robbie Williams, who also had issues dealing with stardom with Take That because no protection was set up for them) told The Observer newspaper, “I would suggest that people should not be in a boyband until they are 18, and the industry should stick to that, too.”
TV Shows
This should also apply to TV shows like the Idol franchise where no protection is given and the stars are virtually discarded after end of season.
A 2019 UK study found 80% of 18—25 year old musicians admitted to mental health issues, in particular anxiety and depression, worsened by being thrust unprepared into a capitalist system with huge expectations and intense schedules.
PREDICTION 2025 #3: AI MAKES MORE SENSE
A 2024 survey found Australian creatives were still hesitant about the legalities and morality of using artificial intelligence in the arts.
But it is expected that the temptation of the newest wave of generative AI technology to throw up unexpected and inventive ideas (even if it tends to mimic formulas) will be harder to resist for producers.
AI technology will also see a surge of fans turning into active creators, and a resurgence of virtual concerts.
PREDICTION 2025 #4: GENRES DISSOLVE
As Mixdown predicted in its list last year, 2024 saw more genres dissolve, aided by AI, social media and personalisation of streaming playlists.
Through this year, for musicians it’s a case of focusing on how to connect with listeners, rather than a style they are too scared of moving out of.
Country
Beyonce winning country artist of the year in 20214 lead to fury in purist corners, but they have to get used to it.
The music industry will need to find new ways to market music, and genre-based music awards like the Grammys and ARIAs will need a rethink.
PREDICTION 2025 #5: DIRECT TO FANS
Widening a direct-to-fan relationship includes website sales, venue sales, fan clubs, and crowdfunding.
Bandzoogle, Bandsintown, Shopify, Printrove, Qikink and Bandwear have long proven how effective such platforms are.
Even
Launched last year, EVEN works with Australian acts, along with those in 100 countries, with a mobile app where fans can directly engage with their artists, chat with fans, and enjoy offline access to a vast library of purchased music.
EVEN also is the first superfan app where its sales are acknowledged by Billboard’s charts.
THREE MORE APPLE LIVE RADIO STATIONS
Three more new live global radio stations came alive on Apple Music over the holidays.
Apple Music Club focuses on dance and electronic music, as well as club culture.
First week had exclusive mixes from Honey Dijon, Jamie xx, FKA twigs and Nia Archives and sets from Apple Music curators Circoloco, Tomorrowland, The Warehouse Project, Fabric, Hï Ibiza and Stone Island Sound.
Chill
Apple Music Chill programming had Beck reworking of George Harrison’s “Be Here Now”, Brian Eno, Stephan Moccio and Zane Lowe.
Apple Música Uno looks at the diversity of Latin music internationally, delivered in English and Spanish, and with superstar Becky G the official launch host.
Australia
In the meantime, the head of Apple Music Oliver Schusser told the Daily Telegraph that the company’s decision to commissioning a second season of Feeding Time Radio With Amy Shark, that broadcasts to 167 countries signalled a greater presence in Australian and New Zealand.
Down the track, he confided, “We would love to have a permanent studio in Australia but nothing to announce today.”
CROWD SIZES #1: DOM DOLLA
Dom Dolla’s recent sold out Australian tour set a new milestone for a local EDM artist.
Tour promoter Untitled Group revealed, “With over 170,000 tickets sold across four cities, these shows mark the largest tour ever by an Australian electronic artist.”
Highlights were two nights at Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse, two at Sydney’s Domain, two sell-outs at Brisbane’s Riverstage and Perth’s Wellington Square, and a 4 hour back to back with Solomun as part of Untitled’s 10 year celeb partnering with Good Fortune.
CROWD SIZES #2: COLDPLAY
Coldplay played to 680,227 fans on their Australian tour, and grossed a total of US$80.3 million (AU$129.6 million), according to Billboard’s Boxscore listing.
In Melbourne, they nailed the highest attendance by a band at Marvel Stadium with 227,000 tickets sold over four shows and $28,849,369 grossed.
Sydney
Four Sydney dates were to 325,072 people and a gross of $37.8 million.
Earlier, in November 2023, the band did two shows in Perth at Optus Stadium, to an audience of 125,035 grossing $13.9 million.
DEADLINE FOR MUSIC VICTORIA CEO GIG
The deadline to apply for the CEO role of Music CEO is midnight, Sunday January 19, 2025.
For full details and where to apply, keep reading here.
NO SPOTIFY CAR THING FOR AUSTRALIA
Australians are never going to see Spotify’s Car Thing, its car audio hardware.
It launched three years ago in the US in a blaze of publicity with plans to go global.
But sales were miserable even after prices were slashed by half from US$89.99 and Spotify last month admitting it hit a demolition wall.
FIRE DESTROYS HEAD GAP STUDIO, SHUB GUITARS
GoFundMe campaigns started for Finn Keane and Rohan Sforcina’s Head Gap Recording Studios and guitar maker Jon Shub’s Shub Guitars which were decimated by fire.
Both Melbourne businesses were in the same building on Dundas Street in Preston. The burger joint next door is believed to have been deliberately lit around December 27.
Overwhelmed
Keane, Sforcina and Shub took to social media to say they have been “overwhelmed” by the response from the community.
Not only did the crowd funding campaigns for Head Gap and Shub Guitars go off to a strong start but there have been offers to help physically rebuild the businesses, but a working group is setting up a benefit show.
FESTIVAL CONFERENCE RETURNS
After taking 2024 off, the Australian Festival Industry Conference (AFIC) is returning for the fourth time on September 8 and 9 at Rivershed on Meanjin country in Brisbane.
It’ll include keynotes, presentation from executives, panel discussions, presentation of four new products, trade exhibition, and a Q&A with Gympie Muster CEO Greg Cavanagh.
During the break, conference founder Carlina Ericson attended numerous festivals and found “it’s clear that the industry is still facing a number of key issues, which therefore reinforces the need for AFIC to return.”
WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL FUNDRAISING TO BUY SITE BACK
Woodford Folk Festival is on a quest to buy back its 163-hectare site Woodfordia from the City of Moreton Bay.
It bought the site in 1994, but had to sell it for $4 million after the financial losses and weather damage from the 2010/11 Queensland floods.
The deal of the sale then was it could lease it for 50 years, and with a 25-year buyback option.
Forest Of Goodwill
Woodford Folk has launched A Forest Of Goodwill campaign (www.aforestofgoodwill.woodfordia.com) to raise $5.7 million by July 2026.
The land will be placed place in a trust, which will fulfill Woodfordia’s 500-year vision: “to gift future generations a place of peace and potential, free from debt—financial, social, and environmental.”
Launched
Festival Managing Director Amanda Jackes addressed the crowd when she launched the campaign during the six-day December/January event.
“Together, we’ve built a space to explore values, celebrate, and gather in ceremony,” she said.
“Here, surrounded by nature, our community gathers and shares moments of life that are woven with kindness, goodwill, and boundless imagination.
Shared Lore
“In this place, we have discovered and shared our lore.”
The campaign started off strongly with a $650,000 donation from ABC Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis and festival patrons Joanne and Stephen Pronk.
The Pronks become the first Forest of Goodwill fellows, creating a new native forest on site, with planting begun with their seven grandchildren.
A month out, in early December, Jackes had to urge patrons to attend as ticket sales were down 15% because of cost of living.
Attendance
In September, the Queensland Government gave the festival a $2 million funding package, , $1.6 million of which will go towards the Woodfordia site to upgrade it for greater visitor experience and weather protection.
The festival generated $28 million in economic benefit for the Moreton Bay region and $32 million across the state.
ANDY CICHON INDUCTED
Long time bassist Andy Cichon was the latest to be inducted into the AMC South Australian Music Hall of Fame at Her Majesty’s Theatre.
After stints in Rose Tattoo and Judge Mercy, Cichon has lived in the US for almost 30 years , a member of Billy Joel’s band for 23 years and went on multiple tours with Shania Twain.
Mother
It was in front of his mother Betty (who made him practise), sister Leona and godfather Manfred Lorenz who was a shipmate of his father Max on his trip from Berlin to Adelaide in 1951.
It was the last induction by Enrico Mick Morena who resigned as Chair of the AMC last year, with new members Trent Worley and Oliver Raggatt part of the proceedings.
MUSICAL CHAIRS
Creative Australia named Leisa Bacon, with a background in audience development in the ABC, government and corporations, Executive Director of Development and Partnerships.
Grant Donges, who joined Sony Music Entertainment in 2001 and was most recently VP, left the company for new challenges.
Green Music Australia appointed Lisa Smith as Treasurer (she was most recently Support Act’s Chief Financial Officer) and broadcaster Tim Shiel as Community Organiser.
Song
Starting next month at Song Company as Executive Director is Rachel Whealy, who runs Bravura Music Tours and Events and was
Executive Director of the Canberra International Music Festival, National Manager of Music Australia, and Director of Development for the Australian Music Foundation.
Sydney’s Inner West Creative Network appointed Michelle St Anne as new Chair after
Tim Stackpool moved to role of Public Officer.
$27M MORE FOR COMMUNITY MEDIA
Community radio and TV got an extra $27 million from the Albanese Government over the next three years.
Of this, $15 million is for the Community Broadcasting Program and $12 million for Indigenous Broadcasting and Media Program.
Community broadcasters deliver over 500 AM/FM/DAB+ services and two dedicated TV services (in Melbourne/Geelong and Adelaide) that reach over 5.19 million each week – almost one-quarter (24.8%) of Australians.
TICKETEK SIGNS WITH SIXT
A new partnership between the Ticketek booking agency and car rental firm SIXT Australia is aimed at the growing amount of Australians who travel interstate for sports events and concerts.
Ticketek buyers who must hire a vehicle can do so seamlessly through the SIXT website, and SIXT customers who buy tickets through Ticketek get special deals.
BECKY G VEVO’S MOST WATCHED VIDEO
Global viewing figures for 2024 from Vevo are that its most watched video was Mexican-American singer and actress Becky G’s “Por El Contrario” with 313 million views.
Second was Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars‘ “Die With A Smile” with 298.6 million views., followed by FloyyMenor and Cris MJ’s “Gata Only” (296.4 million views), Sabrina Carpenter‘s “Espresso” (211.2 million views), and KAROL G’s “Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” (193.7 million views).
Watched Artist
Columbia’s KAROL G took Vevo’s Most Watched Artist for a fourth consecutive year (3.57 billion views)
She was followed by Shakira (2.01 billion), Taylor Swift (1.99 billion), The Weeknd (1.86 billion and Feid (1.7 billion) and Ariana Grande, Maluma, Billie Eilish and Lady Gaga returning to the global Top 10.
NEW OWNER FOR CONCRETE PLAYGROUND
Vinyl Group, Australia’s only ASX-listed music company, signed a binding Heads of Agreement to acquire 16-year old digital gig guide Concrete Playground Pty Ltd for $5 million.
Its unaudited revenues over the past twelve months amounted to over $4 million.
Upon completion, Concrete Playground’s founder & CEO, Rich Fogarty, will depart.
The multi-division Vinyl Group’s publishing arm includes Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Variety Australia, TheBrag.com, The Music Network and Tone Deaf.
LIFELINES
Expecting: San Cisco singer/drummer Scarlett Stevens and Pond multi-instrumentalist James Ireland.
Charged: Perth DJ, 28 (unnamed) faces Fremantle Magistrates Court on January 24. Police allege he turned up the music at a rave at Fremantle’s Port Beach around 3am on Boxing Day after being told to turn down, and refused to leave the site after they seized his gear.
Day
In Court: Titus Day, ex-manager of Guy Sebastian successfully obtained a stay of his retrial over allegations he defrauded his client until he is paid nearly $1 million in legal fees.
Investigating: Mackay, Qld, police are investigating the homicide last winter of musician Kerin Shaw, 68, 2.5 weeks after an alleged incident at a Parkview Court home.
Drill
Jailed: four members of western Sydney drill rap group Money Over Bitches after a violent brawl in 2021 with drill rappers Queen Street Boys which led to the fatal stabbing of a 19 year old and the wounding of two others.
Died: country music legend Chad Morgan, aka “the Sheik of Scrubby Creek”, 91, after a lengthy illness. He was discovered in 1952 via radio’s Australian Amateur Hour quest and released his final and 18th album Quarantined in 2021.
Saxplayer
Died: saxplayer Bob Bertles, 85, was best known from Max Merritt & The Meteors. He was in the orchestra for the Chicago musical, and formed the Bob Bertles Quartet which released two albums, and recently Ten Part Invention.
Died: keyboard player and guitar virtuoso Craig Reeves a member of the Dead Livers in the ‘80s, which played a number of reunion shows of late. Engineer Simon Glozirr called him a “powerhouse of a man”, “pushy and brash” and “tireless in his pursuit of his chosen career.”
Giants
Died: Steve Woods, guitarist and singer with Melbourne blues boogie band The Giants. Over 40 years and 19 albums, and revered by bikers and truck drivers, they toured the world 15 times.
Died: Tanda Webb, co-founder of the Gympie Muster festival and widow of the late Fabian Webb of The Webb Brothers.
Died: influential NSW double bass player and singer Jack Thorncraft worked for three decades with jazz and cabaret performers as James Morrison, Marcia Hines, Don Burrows, Jim Kelly, Ernie Watts, Grace Knight and Barney Kessel, renowned for the sound he got.
