The VMDO Music Data and Insights Summit brings industry experts to Collingwood to explore music industry research, trends and data.
The Victorian Music Development Office (VMDO) will present its first-ever Music Data and Insights Summit at Collingwood Yards, showcasing crucial research that’s shaping the future of Australia’s music industry.
Industry experts, academics and music professionals will gather to explore data-driven insights across live music, streaming economics and career development at the two-day event.
VMDO Music Data and Insights Summit
- 28 – 29 April 2025
- Collingwood Yards
- $30 day ticket, $50 two-day value ticket
- Lunch, morning and afternoon tea provided
- Check out the summit program here. Register here
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
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Day one
Live music economics under the spotlight
Victorian Music Industry Advisory Council member, Neil Morris will start the summit by delivering a keynote presentation on the value of insights from a cultural and First Nations perspective.
Day one then features a session where Associate Professor Dave Carter and his colleagues from Massey University will share key findings from their research measuring the value of live performance across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Their comprehensive study found live performance contributes a staggering $17.3 billion to the economy, with every dollar spent generating $3.20 in benefits to the wider community. The research also revealed that attending live performances provides an immediate boost to life satisfaction.
UK music strategist Chris Carey will complement these findings by discussing global music trends and unpacking the 2024 UK Live Report, which shows live music’s economic contribution in the UK exceeded £6 billion for the first time last year.
Climate challenges facing festivals
The summit will address growing environmental concerns with Green Music Australia CEO Berish Bilander and Miranda Nicol from Untitled Group discussing their new research, Rain, Heat, Repeat, which explores how festivals can respond to climate challenges.
Their timely research examines how extreme weather events increasingly threaten Australia’s music festival sector, with floods, bushfires and dangerous heat conditions leading to more frequent cancellations. The presentation will outline how data, storytelling and collaboration can help the industry adapt.
Day two
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New insights on Victorian music professional support roles
Day two opens with Associate Professor Catherine Strong from RMIT University launching new VMDO research titled Skills & Roles – Support workers in Victorian music industries, addressing career challenges faced by various music industry professionals.
Strong’s extensive work on gender inequality in the music industry will inform a panel discussion about support systems for music workers. This builds on her previous research with the Encore Project, which developed resources for women and gender non-conforming music industry workers restarting careers after breaks.
Data versus vibes debate
One of the summit’s most anticipated sessions is a lively debate about music data versus working with a vibe, moderated by Robert Baxter from The Push. Team Data includes Louis Parkinson (Xelon Digital), Charlotte Sterenberg (Musicologist) and Marcke De Vera (William Morris Endeavor), while Team Vibe features Nathan Gunn (Ecstatic! Management), Anika Luna (Triple J) and Claire Qian (Media Arts Lawyers).
This session promises to interrogate how data-driven decisions versus intuition shape career development strategies in an increasingly complex music economy.
Streaming economy analysis
Music industry researcher Tim Kelly will use ARIA chart and revenue data to explore the economics of the streaming age, while Chris Carey will discuss how slow money in the streaming economy has affected artist development. These presentations will provide vital context for music professionals navigating the digital landscape, particularly as streaming now dominates revenue models across the industry.
Music Australia to launch new live music attendance report
The summit concludes with Music Australia launching the first of three Listening In reports focusing on live music attendance, offering fresh insights into audience behaviour and trends.
Music Australia’s Executive Director Millie Millgate will introduce the session by highlighting the critical role of research in industry development, followed by Creative Australia’s Rebecca Mostyn providing an overview of current music research projects.
Belinda Balhatchet from Creative Australia will then present key findings from the inaugural Listening In: Insights on live music attendance report.
A panel of industry heavyweights including Michael Christidis (Untitled Group), Nathan Farrell (CLBR), Dr. Christen Cornell (Creative Australia) and Claire Qian (The Push) will discuss practical applications of the research, with The Daily Aus co-founder Sam Koslowski moderating.
The two-day summit will close with a networking reception, giving attendees the opportunity to connect with presenters and fellow industry professionals.
The summit welcomes everyone and is hosted at the accessible CY Venue at Collingwood Yards. Tickets are available at $30 for a single day or $50 for both days, with catering included. The Victorian Music Development Office is a Victorian government-funded initiative delivered by Music Victoria, with the summit supported by Music Australia and the Music Industry Research Collective.
For more information, head here.
This article was made in partnership with the Victorian Music Development Office.
