QMusic announces “surplus year” and record sponsorships

Queensland’s peak music association QMusic told its annual general meeting last week that 2016 gave it “the largest surplus in (its) history”, according to its President, Michael Crutcher.

Total sponsorship reached $305,273, a 22% rise from 2015 – in which year it also posted a record figure of $250,000.

Its flagship event, BIGSOUND, posted its biggest profit, with its income up by $79,308. This included an increase of $50,745 in registrations and additional $27,321 from ticket sales.

Figures from Treasurer Ben Hancock put BIGSOUND’s attendance at 1321 conference delegates and 6724 festival attendees. Of the 188 speakers, 33% were from interstate and 136 from overseas. Of the showcases, 121 bands were from the rest of Australia and nine were international.

5000 delegates attended the conference on its first day, at the Judith Wright Centre, while the other days averaged 300 to 400. Of BIGSOUND Facebook fans, 71% were aged under 35 with an even split between men and women. 93% of attendees indicated they would attend this year’s event.

BIGSOUND’s economic and tourism impact took the shape of a fresh injection of $3.72 million 16% up from 2015. Total visitor nights were 9547, up 14%, with visitors staying an average of 1.9 nights in Brisbane.

Adding to QMusic’s strong financials for 2016 was tightened expenditure, almost 7% lower than in 2015.

The result was a surplus of $158,363, which will allow QMusic to re-engineer its website and re-establish its programs in regional centres.

Crutcher noted that while 2016 would go down as one of “the most cherished years for QMusic”, it had started with the defunding of its program delivery, “the core reason for the organisation’s existence for many years”.

Also a challenge was the introduction of the state’s lockout laws, which put pressure on its live music venues.

However confirmation of four-year funding from the state and Federal Governments – through Arts Queensland and Australia Council – for 2017 to 2020 has given it certainty to plan ahead.

Throughout 2016, QMusic also expanded its online reach. Combined visits to its websites were up 121% to 369,320. It also reported 32,881 followers on Facebook, 17,087 on Twitter and 5,981 on Instagram.

The main source of referrals to QMusic websites was Facebook, followed by online music publications.

Crutcher commended the QMusic team and the work of Joel Edmondson in his second year as Executive Officer, saying: “Joel has positioned QMusic for its most exciting period of growth.”

Read the full QMusic report online here.