A bar owner has called for Youth Allowance and JobSeeker payments to be increased so young Australians can afford a night out and tickets to a music festival.
Ancient World co-owner Hugh Scobie made the call to warn that young Australians were being crushed by the cost of living crisis.
Music festivals were once a rite of passage for many young Australians, but economic pressures have led to a drop in ticket sales, while several festivals, including Splendor in the Grass, have been forced to cancel as a result.
“Most people can’t afford to spend $50 on a night out,” Scobie told the Adelaide Advertiser.
A new report has found that economic pressures and the rising cost of living have led to a dramatic drop in ticket sales among young Australians.
The report found that ticket sales suffered among the largest group of music festival attendees: those aged 18 to 24.
‘Increasing the jobseeker and youth allowance to the amount recommended by the Australian Council of Social Service would be a huge help.
Creative Australia’s SoundCheck report ‘Insights into Australia’s music festival sector’ released on Wednesday found ticket sales fell 24 per cent among the largest group of festivals.
Ticket sales among 18- to 24-year-olds fell from 41 percent in 2018 to 2019 to 27 percent in 2022 to 2023.
The report also cited the National Arts Participation Survey, which found that ticket sales fell due to high attendance costs and the growing cost of living crisis.
The cost of tickets remained the most common barrier to attendance, affecting 55 per cent of Australians, with 33 per cent saying they will not attend an event in 2022 due to ticket prices.
Money problems were also more pronounced among party-goers under 35, with nine in 10 young Australians experiencing financial difficulties in 2023.
Young Australians told WhatsNew2Day Australia they believed the cost of living and high ticket prices were factors in the cancellation of the Splendor in the Grass music festival.
Scobie explained that young Australians cannot stretch their budgets to pay for a ticket to a music festival or even a night out on the town.
“We lost a lot of our audience – young people and students whose main income comes from Centrelink – almost immediately after interest rates, rents, food and petrol prices went up,” he said.
“Seeing bands and socializing with their friends doesn’t seem like something affordable for them in the current economic climate.”
Young Australians participating in JobSeeker, who are single and do not have children, receive a maximum fortnightly payment of $762.70.
Co-owner of Adelaide bar and DJ venue Ancient World, Hugh Scobie (left), called for youth and jobseeker allowance payments to be increased so young Australians can afford ticket prices and a night out in the city.
Young Australians on JobSeeker, who are single and have no children, receive a maximum fortnightly payment of $762.70.
Those receiving youth allowance can receive between $395.30 and $806 per fortnight, depending on their age, housing conditions, marital status and whether they have children.
Scobie suggested increasing the payments in line with a suggestion made by the Australian Council of Social Service.
The organization estimated that JobSeeker recipients were receiving an average of $55 a day and argued this should increase in line with the $80 pension.
The Soundcheck report also noted extreme weather events, regulatory changes and increasing operating costs as challenges affecting the music festival industry.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the Soundcheck report highlighted the lack of funding, grants and support for festivals in Australia.
‘Festivals are an important part of the arts and live music ecosystem. “Festivals support employment not only for artists but also in hospitality, tourism and retail,” said Senator Hanson-Young.
‘It’s no surprise to hear festival organizers say that extreme weather and insurance are among their biggest challenges.
“We have known for some time that extreme weather events and climate change are making it more difficult and unpredictable to organize large-scale events.
Senator Hanson-Young has written to the Arts Minister to ask for government-backed funding and a support package for festivals in the May Budget.
It comes after a number of music festivals in Australia were canceled due to poor ticket sales.
The iconic three-day Splendor in the Grass music festival, which was due to take place July 19-21 at North Byron Parklands, was canceled on March 26.
Sources claimed that the festival was most likely canceled due to poor ticket sales, but organizers said in a statement that this was due to “unexpected events.”
Australian pop princess Kylie Minogue, 55, was set to headline the event alongside other popular artists such as G Flip, Arcade Fire and Future.
It comes after a series of major music festivals in Australia were cancelled, including the iconic three-day Splendor in the Grass festival (pictured).
One of Australia’s biggest music festivals, Groovin the Moo, was forced to cancel its upcoming tour of shows just two months before it was due to start.
In February, organizers announced that festivals across regional Australia would not take place in 2024, citing poor ticket sales.
In January, ValleyWays, a music festival featuring some of Australia’s biggest bands, was canceled just weeks before it was scheduled to take place.
ValleyWays was preparing to welcome revelers to Onslow Oval in Camden, south-west Sydney, on February 17, until it was announced it would not go ahead.
In the same month, Tent Pole Music Festival canceled its event just weeks before its start with organizers blaming the “impossible” economic climate.
It was due to take place on February 17 at Mt Duneed Estate in Geelong, Victoria, but was forced to offer ticket holders a full refund after it was cancelled.
Earlier this year, the Vintage Vibes festival was canceled two weeks before the event held at Tomich Wines at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills.
Organizers took to social media to announce that the January 27-28 festival was canceled due to “increased pressure on supply chains” and “changes in the economic climate.”
International headliners Rudimental and Groove Armada would line up alongside local artists DMA’s, Meg Mac and Cub Sport.
Around the same time, the 2023 and 2024 Coastal Jam and Falls music festivals were canceled.