Live music industry faces decline as costs soar and income falls

Hosting large-scale music events is becoming an increasingly difficult proposition for venues like the Old Mount Gambier Gaol, a historic site that has become a regional hub for concerts. Proprietor James Stephenson reports that costs for artists, security, staging, and other logistics have multiplied several times over since he and his wife Mel began operating the venue. These escalating expenses, combined with promoters' reduced profit margins, are making it challenging to attract major acts.

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Everything's just gone up two, three, four or five times [in cost], that's the main difference from when we started to now.

Stephenson has faced public criticism and personal attacks online for failing to secure gigs, prompting him to defend the venue's efforts on social media. While acknowledging the frustration of locals who miss out on shows, he emphasizes that the public often doesn't understand the complex work involved in organizing such events. The venue's commitment to Mount Gambier is largely positive, but negative feedback does surface when marquee events are not secured.

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It makes it a bit hard, not just for myself but for the promoters and how much they want to get out of a show.

These challenges are not isolated to Mount Gambier; venues across regional Australia are grappling with similar issues. MusicSA CEO Christine Schloithe notes a significant decline in the live music scene compared to previous decades. Factors contributing to this downturn include increased operational costs, reduced alcohol sales, and shifts in audience behavior. The rising expense of artist transport, fuel, and insurance further strains the industry, fragmenting the regional music landscape.

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They simply do the maths and go, 'It's too hard.'

For local bands like Gernz, fronted by Liam Brown, the shrinking number of shows makes it harder to gain traction. While they enjoy the thrill of performing for crowds, the overall decline in opportunities presents a significant hurdle for emerging artists trying to build a career in the live music industry.

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The majority is positive because of the things that we do for Mount Gambier, but we also get the negative.