Young Australians Are Being 'Locked Out' of Live Music, New Report Finds

Nearly half of young Australians under 18 say age restrictions are stopping them from attending live music, according to new research highlighting the challenges facing the industry’s next generation of audiences.

The Push’s 2026 Young Australian Music Audiences Report, released today, found 45% of 16-17-year-olds have been unable to attend live music because of venue licensing restrictions, while the same proportion pointed to a lack of dedicated under-18 or all-ages events in their area. 

Cost is also becoming an increasingly significant issue for young audiences. Some 68% of Australians aged 16-25 now have less than $100 a week available for all entertainment spending, compared with 58% in 2024. In fact, ticket prices were identified as the biggest barrier to attending live music overall, cited by 45% of respondents. 

The findings come as the Australian live sector continues to grapple with audience development and the long-term sustainability of the local touring ecosystem. While 67% of young Australians surveyed said they take pride in listening to Australian artists and 69% want greater access to local acts, 43% said they rarely or never see Australian artists perform live.

Discovery appears to be another hurdle, with 59% saying they want to attend local shows but do not know where to find information about gigs. 

The report also points to the role live music plays beyond entertainment for younger audiences. 65% ranked wellbeing and happiness among the top three benefits of attending music events, while half said they use live music to help manage stress, anxiety or depression. 

Kate Duncan, CEO of The Push, said the findings should serve as a warning about both young Australians' access to music and the industry's future audience pipeline.

“Through this report, young Australians are telling us loud and clear that music events are vital to their wellbeing and social connection. Yet year after year, we keep seeing young people locked out. We know Australia is facing a dual mental health and cultural crisis, and music continues to be overlooked as one of the most impactful tools we have to tackle both,” she said. 

"If we do not create accessible, all-ages pathways today, we’re depriving an entire generation of community connection while starving our local music economy of its future audience and artist baseline."

The Push has been urging for greater investment in youth-focused music infrastructure, with a delegation of 30 young leaders taking its National Plan for Young People and Music to federal parliamentarians in Canberra in March.

The organisation is seeking $13.5 million to roll out youth music infrastructure nationally, while its existing programs include Push Over Festival, the Music Careers Expo and Music Industry Mentoring program, alongside partnerships with triple j's One Night Stand and Unearthed High School Tour.

The latest research found 67% of young Australians support government funding for youth music programs and live events. 

Jamison Kehl, Artist and Youth Lead, Training and Operations at The Push, said barriers including age restrictions and rising costs were keeping young people away from gigs.

“Going to see local bands should be an essential part of growing up, but right now it feels like the system is built to keep us out. Between over-18 venue rules and ticket prices, young people are forced to miss out on the experiences that help us cope with stress and feel connected,” she said. 

"This data shows that this isn't just something we are feeling - it's real for young people right across the country.”

LanGwij singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mone Hunt-Feagai added that the lack of accessible gigs was also limiting opportunities for emerging artists to develop in front of live audiences. “This report from The Push puts data behind what young people across Australia feel every day: that without accessible live gigs, young artists lose the chance to learn their craft in front of a real crowd, and young people lose one of the few genuine places left to connect in person. 

"I’ve grown up around music my entire life so when I started writing my own songs with LanGwij I was taken aback by how few opportunities there are to connect to IRL audiences. There’s something magic about live music, and it will always conquer anything you consume on a screen - and that’s what young people want to see more support for.”

Killing Heidi's Ella Hooper similarly pointed to the importance of all-ages shows in building both audiences and future artists. "For a kid from a small country town, music is more than entertainment - it’s really a lifeline. As a band in the 90s/00s, the regional all-ages circuit gave us connection, a sense of identity and bolstered our ambition.

“I’m concerned, though, because this data proves young people need music now more than ever, and without addressing the growing barriers we risk harming young people and narrowing the pipeline of future Aussie bands — that’s why the work of The Push is so vital; it gives young people a way to find themselves through music,” she said. 

Now in its third year, The Push's annual research tracks young Australians' attitudes towards live music, discovery, local artists, wellbeing and government investment.