Priced Out: Young Aussies Say Live Music Is Vital To Their Mental Health

New research from youth music charity The Push reveals young Australians continue to value live music for wellbeing, friendship and belonging — but many are increasingly being priced or shut out of the scene.

Why Live Music Still Matters

For the third year running, almost two-thirds (63%) of Australians aged 16–25 told The Push that attending music events is important to them. Nearly two-thirds (65%) ranked wellbeing and happiness among the top three benefits of going to gigs, and half said live shows help them manage stress, anxiety or depression. More than half (53%) said gigs strengthen friendships, while 43% highlighted a sense of community and 42% a sense of belonging.

Cost And Declining Disposable Income

Cost is the biggest single barrier to attendance, named by 45% of young people surveyed, rising to 57% among those with only $0–$50 a week for entertainment. Disposable income for entertainment is trending downward: 37% now have $50 or less per week (up from 33% in 2024 and 2025), while just 19% have more than $100 a week (down from 25% last year and 31% in 2024).

Women, Teens And Other Barriers

Young women are disproportionately affected: 43% of young women have less than $50 per week for entertainment, compared with 31% of young men, and 71% of young women have under $100 per week to spend (up from 57% in 2025). Other major barriers include location (26%), lack of time or competing commitments (25%) and lack of interest (25%). Women were more likely than men to cite location (31% vs 21%) and safety concerns (21% vs 12%).

For 16–17-year-olds, licensing restrictions are a major obstacle: 45% said regulatory rules prevent them from attending live music, and an equal share said there simply aren’t enough under‑18 events. Cost affected 57% of this group, and 36% cited parental permission as a barrier (up from 23% in 2024).

Discovery Gap For Local Artists

The report also exposes a discovery problem: two‑thirds of young people feel proud of Australian music and 69% want to hear more local artists, yet 59% said they'd like to see more local acts live but don’t know where to find information about shows. More than two in five rarely or never attend performances by touring Australian artists (43%) or hometown acts (42%). Among those who go to gigs only once or twice a year, international acts are more often the recipients of that limited spend (36%) than touring Australian artists (25%) or local acts (24%).

What The Push Proposes

The Push is calling for a package of measures to reduce barriers: increased investment in all‑ages and under‑18 events; grants to help venues, festivals, artists and promoters make those shows viable; changes to licensing and compliance to make alcohol‑free events easier; and ticketing schemes or passes to subsidise youth attendance. Two‑thirds (67%) of respondents support government funding for live music programs that help young people connect and support their wellbeing.

"Young Australians have told us what music gives them, what is getting in their way and what needs to change. We now need to listen and act." — Kate Duncan, The Push CEO

Methodology

The 2026 Young Australian Music Audiences Report was commissioned and authored by The Push, with polling by YouGov. A nationally representative sample of 1,025 Australians aged 16–25 completed the survey between 11 and 24 May 2026.