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Australian live music and events industry
The business behind the stage. News, guides, and insider takes on Australian live entertainment.
Thirty years of gigs, festivals, and tours distilled into practical coverage of ticketing, venue ops, touring logistics, and the tech reshaping live events.
What we cover
- Festival and touring economics
- Ticketing platforms and audience data
- Venue management and regulations
- Event technology and production
What you can expect
- Insider perspectives from 30+ years in the game
- Practical advice for promoters and venue operators
- Honest takes on industry trends and policy
- Coverage of AI and tech in live entertainment
Latest posts
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Band Rider Negotiations: What Actually Matters and What's Just Mythology
The stories about ridiculous band riders make headlines. The real negotiations happen around production requirements and settlement terms that nobody talks about.
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Festival Food Vendor Economics: Why Your $18 Burger Costs What It Does
Everyone complains about festival food prices. Here's what food vendors actually pay for access and why the margins aren't what you think.
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Sydney Venue Closures Are Hitting the Local Music Scene Hard
Three more Sydney live music venues closed in early 2026. Here's what's behind the decline and what it means for bands and audiences.
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Why Festival Lineups All Look the Same Now
Australian music festivals are booking the same artists repeatedly. Here's why lineup diversity has declined and what it means for emerging acts.
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Why Touring Australia Is Still a Logistical Nightmare in 2026
Distance, costs, and infrastructure gaps make Australian touring uniquely challenging. A tour manager's perspective on what hasn't changed and what's getting worse.
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Booking Emerging Artists: What Promoters Actually Look For
Breaking into the live circuit as a new artist is frustratingly hard. Understanding what promoters need makes the process slightly less impossible.
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Artist Cancellation Insurance: Is It Worth the Premium for Australian Promoters?
Artist cancellations have become more common post-COVID, and insurance costs have risen accordingly. Here's the math on whether coverage makes sense for your events.
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Venue Capacity Regulations Are Changing Across Australia: What Promoters Need to Know
State governments are revising live venue capacity rules following several high-profile incidents. The changes affect everything from how capacity is calculated to insurance requirements.
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Crowd Management Tech After the Astroworld Effect
The Astroworld tragedy forced the live events industry to rethink crowd safety. Here's what technology is actually being deployed and what's still missing.
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Sound Engineering for Small Venues: Practical Tips That Actually Work
Running sound in small venues presents unique challenges. Here's what actually improves sound quality in spaces under 300 capacity.
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Acoustic Treatment for Small Venues: What Actually Makes a Difference
Small music venues struggle with room acoustics that muddy the mix and create an unpleasant listening experience. Here's what works and what doesn't.
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Why Cashless Festival Payment Systems Keep Failing
Mandatory RFID wristband payment systems were supposed to speed up transactions and reduce theft. Instead they create new problems and frustrate customers.
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Band Rider Requests vs Venue Realities: The Technical Gap
Why technical riders from touring acts often don't match what regional venues can actually provide, and how to manage the gap without compromising shows.
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Festival Stage Production: Weather Contingencies That Actually Work
How Australian festival promoters plan for weather disruptions, the technology and logistics that prevent cancellations, and what separates resilient events from disasters.
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DJ Rider Requirements Have Gotten Completely Unrealistic
I've been doing venue production for 30 years. DJ technical riders used to be one page: 'CDJ-2000s and DJM mixer.' Now they're eight pages demanding equipment that doesn't exist in most venues.