Hotel SA September 2023

XW O M E N I N H O T E L S
around the country which asked one contentious
question – what is Australia’s national sport?
• TAB customers weighed in on the debate and 35%
of survey participants said AFL is Australia’s national
sport. At the same time as polling customers, TAB
asked their team members and found 41% think
cricket is our national sport.
• Regardless of the results, one thing is clear: Aussies
will play, support and conquer almost any sport.
Which means there is only one logical answer…
Sport is our Sport.
MUSIC MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
MusicSA is the state’s peak body and advocate for the
contemporary music industry.
Due to scheduling issues, Christine Schloithe, CEO of
MusicSA, was unable to present on the day, but made
the following points:
Good Music Month:
• MusicSA has developed and launched a new project
to support venues and artists, to promote South
Australia as a live music destination and elevate
Adelaide as Australia’s only UNESCO City of Music.
• Called Good Music Month, it’s a new annual
open-access state-wide festival highlighting live
music that runs the full month of November:
www.goodmusicmonth.com.au
Why do venues book live artists and musicians?
• Artists add a layer of entertainment
• Attract customers
• Artists add ambience to and activate spaces
and venues
• Provide a point of difference
• Artists provide another point of contact for your
local community to engage with your venue.
Current trends and challenges in live music:
• Small-medium live music venues are doing it
particularly tough. Business costs have increased,
audience trends have changed since the pandemic
and the market of local and touring acts is still
rebuilding
• Adelaide has always been known for ‘late’ ticket
sales for live music events. This is still the case but
the rest of Australia is now experiencing a consumer
lag in ticket sales and ticket sales for music in
venues is slow across the board
• The music industry continues to face chronic staff
and skill shortages. The industry is focusing on
pathways, training and rebuilding a workforce with
expert skills
• Audiences aren’t going out as much as they used
to. The pandemic changed our appetite for ‘live
performance’ and the more recent economic
pressures are starting to bite
• Young audiences appear to have a different
relationship with alcohol in venues, which is
challenging the traditional venue business
models. For some younger audiences, it’s the
cost of alcohol and for others, it’s a health and
lifestyle choice
Despite a seemingly bleak landscape, it is not all
bad news. Live music is strong and resilient in South
Australia and the industry is rebuilding and adapting.
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