Government urged to address industry ‘crisis’ after Splendour 2024 cancellation
The Australian music industry is calling for support from government following the cancellation of the 2024 Splendour in the Grass music festival.
On Wednesday, just two weeks after unveiling its 2024 line-up, reports emerged that the beloved Byron Bay event was being called off, with festival organisers soon after confirming that “unexpected events” had led to its axing this year.
Managing director of the Australian Festival Association (AFA), Mitch Wilson, said the advocacy group is “devastated” by the cancellation of Splendour this year, which has long been a key event on music fans’ calendars.
“The Australian music festival industry is currently facing a crisis, and the flow-on effects will be felt across the local communities, suppliers and contractors that sustain our festivals and rely on them to support their livelihoods,” Wilson said in a statement given to Mumbrella.
“Some festivals have seen strong ticket sales this summer, but with costs up 30-40% across the board and affordable insurance difficult to obtain, margins are tight.
“Festival organisers haven’t raised ticket prices to offset or meet these increases due to cost-of-living challenges being faced by everyone.
“We need government at the table to help us through this period and assist in stabilising our industry to sustainable levels. This needs a national approach.”
Splendour 2023. Pic by Charlie Hardy
The AFA has called on the Albanese government to “substantially” increase and continue the Live Music Australia grant – which provides support for live music venues, festivals and organisations – and for state governments to support Australian music festivals with “time-limited funding” over the next two seasons.
Wilson also called on festival-goers to show their support by purchasing tickets to events earlier, after another popular local festival, Groovin The Moo, was also canned earlier this year.
“We acknowledge the current poor strength of the Australian dollar and high travel costs impacting the ability of festival promoters to entice headline artists from overseas, further impacting peoples’ demand for tickets when disposable incomes are tight,” Wilson said.
“If we all step back and let market conditions determine our future, cancellations will continue. Do we, as a community want to lose more of Australia’s favourite cultural events?”
It is hoped, but currently unclear, if Splendour will return in 2025, with co-CEOs of Secret Sounds, and festival organisers, Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco, saying in a separate statement: “We hope to be back in the future.”
Subscribe to the daily newsletter
Got a tip?
Neil Griffiths is the editor of Mumbrella. He joined the company in October 2023.
Linkedin
topics
AFA
Australian Festival Association
Mitch Wilson
Splendour in the Grass
Splendour in the Grass 2024
Splendour and GTM both had terrible lineups. Once look at the comments on their social pages and you’d quickly see that there was no appeal in the artists playing regardless of whether you are Gen Z, Millenial or older.
User ID not verified.
Have your say