In a bold move to support young Australians and revive the live music industry, leading national youth music organisation, The Push, has launched a campaign advocating for a $6.8 million federal investment over the next four years.
The proposed funding would go towards a National All-Ages Events Teams program aimed at providing live music experiences to over 120,000 young people, creating 1200 new jobs, and fostering stronger community connections across regional and outer suburban areas.
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This initiative, launched last week during National Youth Week, comes at a crucial time as the country heads into a federal election. The Push is urging political leaders to make a meaningful commitment to the future of both young Australians and the Australian music industry by investing in the program.
According to Kate Duncan, CEO of The Push, the impact of live music on young people—particularly those facing financial, social, and emotional challenges—cannot be overstated. “Live music can be a transformative experience for a generation of young Australians that are experiencing financial, social and emotional stress at the highest rates on record,” Duncan says.
The National All-Ages Events Teams program aims to ensure young people, especially in regional and outer suburban areas, have access to affordable and accessible local live music experiences. The program’s focus on youth leadership and community engagement will provide participants with the opportunity to become both event organisers and active audience members. These events will be designed to be drug, alcohol, and vape-free, ensuring safe, inclusive environments for everyone involved.
In its first phase, the program will embed 25 teams of young participants into their local communities, where they will receive grants, wrap-around support, and training to deliver music events that are low or no-cost for their communities. The program will not only give young people the chance to engage with live music but will also help strengthen the connection between young Australians and their local communities.
Duncan highlights the far-reaching benefits of such an investment, stressing that the program will be a cost-effective way to build the future of Australia’s live music sector. “Supporting a new generation of Australian music fans as event organisers and audiences will not only give young Australians the opportunity to find their community, but it will also shore up the economic outlook for the Australian live music industry, which is currently experiencing disruption and decline.”
The proposed $6.8 million investment is seen as a vital step in not just revitalising the live music industry but also in providing young Australians with the support they need to thrive in their communities. The program’s long-term benefits will extend far beyond the music scene, with positive impacts on social cohesion, education, and employment for young people across the country.
The Federal Inquiry into the Australian Live Music Industry heard cost-of-living pressures, digital music discovery trends, and the need for industry-focused skill development as profound challenges for young audiences.
The Push notes the critical lack of Australian artists in the 2025 triple j Hottest 100 paints an urgent picture, spotlighting the lack of opportunities for young people to connect to Australian artists and the cascading consequences to the industry and the arts more broadly.
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