There are calls for the government to pay for concert tickets for young people to help the struggling live music sector, which has been in the doldrums since the pandemic.
The “youth cultural pass”, a proposal discussed in a recent inquiry into the challenges facing the industry, would subsidise ticket costs for young people.
Research from The Australia Institute, an independent policy think tank, found the pass could help revitalise the live music industry.
The research found that 80 per cent of young Australians would attend more live music events if they had access to a $200 government-funded voucher.
The pass has already been implemented in European countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland, with positive results.
Evidence from France found that 66 per cent of pass holders discovered “new cultural venues”, which they continued to revisit even after their pass expired.
Multiple Australian festivals and music events have shut down post-pandemic, while rising living costs are forcing Australians to cut down on their non-essential spending, with younger generations hit particularly hard.
“The evidence from Europe shows that cultural passes are an effective way of getting young people to engage with the arts,” The Australia Institute research manager Morgan Harrington said.
“For a small investment, the Commonwealth could give live music a huge boost.
Splendour in the Grass is cancelled. It’s one of many music festivals we’ve lost
“Live music has not recovered from the blows that started with the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year was horrible for festivals, venues, and punters.
“If we want to turn things around, we need to invest in Australian artists and the communities that support them.”
