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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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Dynamic Ticket Pricing in Australian Live Music: What the Industry Won't Say Out Loud
Dynamic pricing is here, the industry is divided, and the artists getting it wrong are paying for it on the gram. A working insider's take.
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Festival Insurance in 2026: The Premiums Are Brutal and the Cover Is Worse
Australian festival insurance has been a problem since 2020. In 2026 it is genuinely existential for some operators. An honest look at the market.
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AI Scheduling Tools for Festivals: Who is Using What in 2026
Festival production teams have quietly become heavy AI users. The scheduling and logistics tools are where most of the value is showing up.
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Mid-Tier Venues Are Closing Faster Than They Are Opening
The 300-to-800 capacity venue band has lost twelve rooms across Australia in the last six months. The pattern behind the closures matters more than the count.
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Production Rider Trends Reshaping Australian Tours in Mid-2026
What's actually changing in production riders across Australian tours this year, from in-ear monitor demands to mental health clauses and catering specifics.
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Support Act Fee Compression Is Squeezing the Australian Touring Pipeline
Support slot fees haven't moved in a decade while touring costs have doubled. What this is doing to the pipeline of mid-tier Australian acts in 2026.
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AI Tools Tour Managers Are Actually Using in May 2026
A look at what's working in tour management software with AI components, what's hype, and where the real productivity gains are showing up.
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Festival Stage Insurance Pressures: What's Different in Mid-2026
Stage insurance for Australian festivals has shifted again in 2026. Here's what production managers are actually facing at the negotiating table.
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Why Arena Load-In Times Are Blowing Out in 2026
Production crews are reporting load-in times 20-40% longer than 2019. Mick Callahan looks at what's actually causing it across Australian arenas.
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Regional Touring Economics: What's Actually Working in 2026
Why some Australian regional tours are profitable in 2026 while others bleed money. Mick Callahan breaks down the routing, fees and real numbers.
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The Live Venue Tech Stack in 2026: What Actually Matters
Cutting through the venue tech vendor pitch. What live venues actually need from their software stack in 2026, and what's still oversold.
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Festival Cancellations Continue Into April 2026: What's Behind the Pattern
Another wave of festival cancellations and downsized lineups across Australian summer 2026. The honest read on insurance, costs, and audiences.
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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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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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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.