Half of Australian musicians’ music industry earnings were less than $6,000 last year, according to new data from the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA)
The MEAA surveyed 550 musicians and found two-thirds of artists took on work outside the music industry during the 2023 financial year.
It said one in two artists earned around 15% of the national minimum wage from music.
Australian musicians’ industry earnings very low
MEAA Campaigns Director Paul Davies said musicians “are expected to get by on extraordinarily low incomes, inconsistent and often unpaid work,” and “rarely receive superannuation”.
“A sustainable music industry must support musicians as well as good music businesses,” Davies said.
It comes after the Government announced a parliamentary inquiry into Australia’s live music industry last week.
