Global Stage: Tame Impala will return to Coachella in 2027, where Kevin Parker’s project will headline Saturday. Homegrown Music: A new report says Australians are streaming more music but skipping local artists, renewing questions about how to grow audiences for Australian releases. Live Music: Music Victoria welcomed the Coalition’s live-music reforms but called for greater investment, while Victorian Greens proposed $50 tickets for major events. New Releases: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard announced their 29th album, Entropy, and a 2027 tour; Gang of Youths also revealed their next album, Compañero, due in March. Awards: Ninajirachi won the 2026 NSW Music Prize, with 3% and BOY SODA also recognised. On Stage: Parkway Drive shared an orchestral performance of “Carrion” from the Sydney Opera House, ahead of their live album’s December release.
AGP Executive Report
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Homegrown Streaming: Australian artists are getting heard less at home even as overall music streaming grows, prompting fresh questions about discovery and support for local releases. Awards: Ninajirachi has won the $80,000 NSW Music Prize for I Love My Computer, while SA’s awards celebrated Swapmeet and record-setting First Nations hip-hop trio DEM MOB. New Releases: Middle Kids signed a global deal with Mushroom Music and returned with “big freak”; Jack River also launched a new chapter with G.Y.R.O. and single “Borderline”. Global Stages: Tame Impala will headline Coachella 2027, joined on the bill by Australian acts Dom Dolla, The Avalanches and Empire of the Sun. Live Music: Music Victoria has welcomed new live music reforms while calling for greater investment; separately, a new industry session will urge men to help tackle harmful behaviour and build safer workplaces. ARIA Awards: Sienna Spiro, Genesis Owusu and DMA’S are among the performers announced for this year’s ceremony.
Local Music’s Share: Australians streamed 640 million more tracks this year, but the share going to Australian songs fell from 9.5% to 8.5%, APRA AMCOS reports. Live venues are also thinning: 182 per million people, down from 206 in 2018. The organisation is pushing for local-content rules on streaming platforms and a live-music tax rebate. Industry Support: Music Victoria welcomed the Coalition’s live-music reforms but called for greater investment. The Australian National Academy of Music is seeking $10 million from the Victorian government to help complete its South Melbourne Town Hall venue. Awards: Ninajirachi won the 2026 NSW Music Prize, with 3% and BOY SODA also honoured. New Music: King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and Jimmy Barnes are among more than 20 artists joining a new environmental protest song. On the Road: Kate Miller-Heidke has announced a 40-date Australian tour for 2027, while The Smith Street Band and DZ Deathrays have revealed a 20-date national run.
Live Music Policy: Music Victoria has backed the Victorian Coalition’s proposed venue and festival reforms, but says cutting red tape must come with more investment in grassroots artists and businesses. Awards: Ninajirachi won the 2026 NSW Music Prize, with 3% and BOY SODA also honoured; DMA’S, Spiderbait and Ecca Vandal are among the newly announced ARIA performers. Touring: The Smith Street Band and DZ Deathrays will join forces for a 20-date national tour in 2027. Fatboy Slim and PNAU will lead next year’s Mardi Gras Party lineup in Sydney. Australian Music: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Jimmy Barnes and more than 20 artists have united on an environmental protest song. Industry: A global music body has warned the Albanese government that weakening AI copyright protections could harm creators. Country: Robbie Mortimer has been named a 2027 Tamworth Country Music Festival ambassador, with a headline show set for January.
Tour News: Guy Sebastian returns to New Zealand for his first show there in 13 years, with an Auckland date set for February 13. New Year’s Eve: Birds of Tokyo and DJ CYRIL will headline Darwin’s free waterfront celebration, alongside local acts and fireworks. Live Music: Canberra musician Harry Carman has launched For Sure, an app pairing gig discovery with rewards to help fill local venues. ARIA Awards: Sienna Spiro, Genesis Owusu, DMA’S and Spiderbait are among the newly announced performers. On the Road: Foo Fighters opened their Australian tour in Brisbane with a 26-song set and Taylor Hawkins tribute; Kate Miller-Heidke has announced a 40-date Australian tour for 2027. Music for the Reef: King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and Jimmy Barnes have joined forces on an environmental protest song. Industry Watch: A global music body warns that weakening AI copyright protections could damage creative work. Chart Watch: Queens of the Stone Age have scored their third Australian No. 1 album ahead of their local tour.
Climate & Music: King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Jimmy Barnes and other Australian artists have joined “If Not Now”, a reworking of a King Gizzard song calling for protection of Scott Reef from proposed gas drilling. Arts Funding: Artists and arts workers rallied in Melbourne, urging Victorian election candidates to commit to long-term funding as the state’s cultural spending has fallen in real terms. Local Talent: WA’s Discovery Stage will showcase emerging acts including Joan and the Giants, Ayo Busari and Tara Tiba at the WA Day Festival. Live Music: Robbie Williams opened his Australian tour in Adelaide, while Julia Jacklin announced a tour for her new album, The Gem. A new Victorian country festival will launch in 2027 with Brad Cox headlining. Industry & Policy: A global music body has warned the Albanese government that weakening AI copyright protections could harm creativity. Charts & Awards: Queens of the Stone Age scored their third Australian No. 1 album, and DMA’S, Spiderbait and Ecca Vandal are among the acts set to perform at the 2026 ARIA Awards.
ARIA Awards: DMA’S, Spiderbait and Ecca Vandal lead the 2026 performance lineup, as Ecca also takes home the Australian Music Prize for Looking for People to Unfollow. Live Music: Killswitch Engage brought SPEED vocalist Jem Siow onstage in Sydney, while Sydney’s Astral People Summer Dance has been forced to move from its longtime home amid concerns cultural spaces are losing ground to padel courts. Australian Tours: Kate Miller-Heidke has announced a 39-city 2027 tour, including four WA dates; Baker Boy will play 19 regional shows, and Sevendust are set for an Australian run with Caligula’s Horse. Industry Watch: Global music body IFPI has warned the Albanese government against weakening copyright protections for AI companies, saying the change could put Australian creativity at risk. Ticketek’s parent has called in debt specialists after posting a $140 million loss, raising fresh questions about the ticketing giant’s finances. Charts: DMA’S have expanded their chart-topping album with four new tracks, while Queens of the Stone Age and Nickelback are climbing the ARIA charts ahead of Australian tours.
ARIA Awards: The 40th ceremony has added Genesis Owusu, Ecca Vandal, DMA’S, Spiderbait and others to its performance lineup, with a long list of Australian artists confirmed as presenters. Brisbane spotlight: Benson Boone brought 13-year-old fan Kenzie Riddle onstage for a birthday duet of “Beautiful Things” during his Australian tour opener. Live stages: Sydney’s Astral People Summer Dance has been forced to move, renewing concerns about the loss of cultural spaces as venues make way for padel courts. Touring: Foo Fighters launched their Australian run with a 26-song set and Taylor Hawkins tribute; Baker Boy has announced 19 regional dates for 2027. Diana Ross will also play her first Australian show in more than 20 years, in Sydney. Industry and charts: Australian composers are urging the government to require payment for music already used to train AI, while Ecca Vandal has won the 2026 Australian Music Prize and Queens of the Stone Age have landed their third No. 1 album in Australia.
Live Music: Foo Fighters launched their Australian tour in Brisbane with a nearly three-hour, 26-song set and a tribute to Taylor Hawkins. Benson Boone brought 13-year-old fan Kenzie Riddle onstage to sing “Beautiful Things” at his Brisbane show on her birthday. Australian Artists: Ella Thompson’s new album, Triumph & Sadness, reflects on authenticity and the power of attention. Mick Thomas is touring with his Roving Commission, bringing a calypso-inspired set of musical storytelling to audiences around Australia. Charts & Festivals: Queens of the Stone Age scored their third Australian No. 1 album, while Brisbane’s free Southwave festival has announced a 2027 lineup led by Flight Facilities and The Jungle Giants. National Songbook: Australia’s first 10 inductees include Midnight Oil’s “Beds Are Burning”, The Presets’ “My People” and the Easybeats’ “Friday on My Mind”.
Touring: Foo Fighters opened their Australian Take Cover tour in Brisbane with a 26-song set and tribute to Taylor Hawkins. Sevendust have also announced a 2027 Australian tour with Caligula’s Horse, while Diana Ross will play her first Australian show in more than 20 years. Onstage: Benson Boone invited 13-year-old cancer patient Kenzie Riddle to sing “Beautiful Things” at his Brisbane concert for her birthday. Australian music heritage: The first 10 National Songbook inductees include Midnight Oil’s “Beds Are Burning”, the Easybeats’ “Friday on My Mind” and The Presets’ “My People”. Today marks the centenary of opera great Joan Sutherland’s birth. Charts: Queens of the Stone Age claimed a third Australian No. 1 album, while DMA’S added four tracks to their chart-topping release. Industry: Australian Music Industry has launched a Touring Network Venue Map, and a fresh call for funding highlights the need to support community music programs.
Live Australia: Foo Fighters opened their Australian tour in Brisbane with a three-hour set, while Baker Boy announced a 19-date regional tour for 2027. Charts & Awards: Queens of the Stone Age scored their third Australian No. 1 album with Perfecth; Ecca Vandal won the 2026 Australian Music Prize for Looking for People to Unfollow. Festivals & Venues: Sydney’s Mardi Gras party will return in 2027 at a new venue, as organisers also face the loss of music spaces to padel courts. Brisbane’s free Southwave festival revealed a 2027 lineup led by Flight Facilities and The Jungle Giants, and Dark Mofo is set to return to Hobart. Legacy: Australia is marking 100 years since opera star Dame Joan Sutherland’s birth, celebrating the Sydney-born soprano’s lasting influence.
ARIA Charts: Queens of the Stone Age’s Perfecth debuted at No. 1, while Eddie Perfect’s Beetlejuice (Live at the Regent Theatre Melbourne) hit No. 5 and Fanny Lumsden scored a career-best No. 6 with Traditions. Live: Foo Fighters launched their Australian tour with a three-hour Brisbane stadium show. Local honours: Ecca Vandal won the 2026 Australian Music Prize for Looking for People to Unfollow. Touring: Baker Boy announced a 19-date regional tour for 2027, bringing his show to communities across Australia. Festivals: Hobart’s Dark Mofo will return in 2027, while Brisbane’s Southwave is set to feature Flight Facilities and The Jungle Giants. Riverboats Music Festival is adding a stage for emerging regional artists. Music spaces: Sydney’s Live Music Series has been forced to move from its home for padel courts, prompting concerns about the value placed on cultural venues. Industry: Ausify’s campaign has returned as Australian music’s share of streaming hits a new low.
Awards: Ecca Vandal has won the 2026 Australian Music Prize for Looking for People to Unfollow. Regional touring: Baker Boy is taking a 19-date tour across regional Australia in 2027, while Riverboats Music Festival has added a stage for emerging regional artists. Live music: Triple R will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a free Melbourne show featuring Courtney Barnett, Party Dozen and KAIIT. In Sydney, the Summer Dance series has been forced from its home for padel courts, drawing criticism over the loss of cultural space. Australian music heritage: The first ten National Songbook inductees include Midnight Oil’s “Beds Are Burning”, The Presets’ “My People”, The Easybeats’ “Friday on My Mind” and “Waltzing Matilda”. Industry: Music Australia’s Ausify campaign is back as local music’s share of streaming hits a new low, sharpening concerns about discovery and support for Australian artists.
Australian Music Prize: Ecca Vandal has won the $50,000 AMP for her second album, Looking for People to Unfollow, after a breakout year that includes a Coachella debut and seven ARIA nominations. Live Music: Baker Boy will take a 19-date tour to regional Australia in 2027, while Busselton gets a new New Year’s Eve festival headlined by Young Franco and ShockOne. Sydney Stages: The Mardi Gras party returns on March 6, 2027, in the tunnels beneath Allianz Stadium. Meanwhile, Astral People’s Summer Dance series is being displaced from Liberty Hall Courts by padel courts and will move to Marrickville. Music Heritage: The first 10 tracks in Australia’s National Songbook include landmark songs by Midnight Oil, Yothu Yindi, the Easybeats and the Presets. Big Shows: Diana Ross will play her first Australian show in more than 20 years at Sydney’s Centennial Park on March 5, the eve of Mardi Gras. Ticketing: Australian consumer advocates have condemned ticketing giants over dynamic pricing, renewing scrutiny of the cost of seeing live music.
National Songbook: The first 10 inductees include Midnight Oil’s “Beds Are Burning,” the Easybeats’ “Friday on My Mind” and “Waltzing Matilda,” launching a landmark celebration of Australian songwriting. Touring Boom: Powderfinger’s 2027 reunion tour has grown to 35 dates after selling 300,000 tickets in six days. Diana Ross has also announced an exclusive Sydney show, her first Australian performance in more than 20 years. Festival Circuit: Laneway Festival has unveiled 2027 sideshows for acts including Kim Petras, ADÉLA and Jane Remover, while Perth Festival has revealed its 2027 lineup. Industry Infrastructure: Australian Music Industry has launched a Touring Network Venue Map to help connect artists and venues. Local Milestones: Stand Atlantic scored their first ARIA No. 1 album with GODBREATH. Ticketing: CHOICE’s Shonky Awards called out ticket sellers over fan costs and dynamic pricing, keeping pressure on the live-music sector.
National Songbook: APRA AMCOS and the National Film and Sound Archive unveiled the first 10 inductees, from “Waltzing Matilda” and “Beds Are Burning” to The Presets’ “My People”. Ticketing: Choice gave Ticketek and Ticketmaster Shonky Awards for pricing practices, citing John Farnham tribute tickets listed for up to $1,650; both companies defended their platforms. Touring: Powderfinger’s 2027 reunion tour has grown to 35 dates after 300,000 tickets sold in six days. Diana Ross will play her first Australian show since 2006, headlining Sydney’s Summertime series on March 5. Industry: Australian Music Industry launched a Touring Network Venue Map to help connect artists with venues. Live events: Robbie Williams headlined Melbourne Cup entertainment ahead of his Australian tour, which opens in Adelaide on November 7. Arts funding: The Victorian Greens propose redirecting $90 million in racing-industry funding to artists and arts organisations.
Artist Development: UNIFIED Music Group has added Northeast Arnhem Land band Wild Honey to its six-month Ground Floor incubator, with Bush Music Fund joining as a delivery partner. The band’s new single, “Sacred Ground,” is out now. Ticketing: CHOICE’s Shonky Awards called out Ticketek and Ticketmaster over dynamic and “in-demand” pricing, including John Farnham tribute tickets reaching $1,650. Some dynamic pricing practices will be restricted under Australian Consumer Law from July 2027. Tour News: Daniel Caesar cancelled his Australian and Hawaii arena dates for health reasons; refunds are available. Thy Art Is Murder announced a new vocalist and Australian tour dates. Industry: Ausify has relaunched as Australian music’s share of streaming hits a new low. Charts: Stand Atlantic scored their first ARIA No. 1 with GODBREATH. Live Music: Powderfinger expanded its reunion tour to 35 dates after selling 300,000 tickets in six days, while Big Bang will become the first K-pop group to headline Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
Live Shows: Robbie Williams delivered a headline-making Melbourne Cup performance at Flemington, while 5 Seconds of Summer surprised Melbourne fans by bringing The Wiggles onstage. Tour News: Daniel Caesar cancelled his Australian arena dates, citing health reasons; Big Bang made history as the first K-pop group to headline Sydney’s Accor Stadium. Industry: Ausify has returned as Australian music’s share of streaming hits a new low. Australian Artists: Stand Atlantic scored their first ARIA No. 1 album with GODBREATH, and Powderfinger expanded their reunion tour to 35 dates after selling 300,000 tickets in six days. Live Music Safety: A grandstand collapsed during the Red Hot Summer Tour on the Gold Coast, with 22 people seeking medical attention.
Live Music: Live Nation has expanded Sydney Opera House’s On The Steps series, with Suki Waterhouse, James Blake and Rise Against among the acts. All proceeds from official merchandise will support Support Act, with ticket donations also available. Touring Safety: A grandstand collapsed at the Gold Coast’s Red Hot Summer Tour, leaving at least 22 people seeking medical attention. Australian Music: Ausify’s campaign returns as Australian music’s share of streaming hits a new low, renewing calls to support local artists. Chart Success: Sydney pop-punk band Stand Atlantic scored their first ARIA No. 1 with GODBREATH. Touring Boom: Powderfinger added reunion dates after selling 300,000 tickets in six days, expanding the tour to 35 shows. Local Talent: RAC Arena’s Limelight fund is back, offering more than $30,500 in prizes and career opportunities for WA artists. Coming to Australia: Radiohead drummer Philip Selway says the band hopes to keep touring; the group is preparing for 21 shows in Australia and Japan next May and June.
Local Streaming: Ausify’s campaign returns as Australian music’s share of audio streams hits a new low of 8.5%, down from 13.6% five years ago. Sydney Live Music: Live Nation has completed the On The Steps lineup, adding Australian Crawl and Suki Waterhouse to a bill featuring DMA’S, Spacey Jane and Amity Affliction; merchandise sales will support Support Act. Festival Safety: A grandstand collapsed during the Red Hot Summer Tour, leaving at least 22 people seeking medical attention. Touring Boom: Powderfinger’s 2027 reunion tour has expanded to 35 dates after selling 300,000 tickets in six days. ARIA Charts: Stand Atlantic scored their first No. 1 album with GODBREATH.
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