News February 24, 2022

Ticketmaster champions Budjerah, Hope D and more, reports ‘best quarter ever’ in Q4

Senior Journalist, B2B

As touring sparks into action and life returns to (something like) normal, Budjerah, Hope D and King Stingray are tipped for big things this year. And there’s seven more Aussie acts ready to go large.

That’s the forecast from Ticketmaster, which today (Feb. 24) reveals its “Breakthrough 2022” list, which the ticketing giant describes as a celebration of “our incredible local talent, and embodies Ticketmaster’s commitment to supporting home-grown Australian artists.”

The standout from the latest, annual list is Budjerah, the reigning Michael Gudinski breakthrough artist award winner at the ARIAs, who, last year, dropped his debut EP via Warner Music Australia, signed with Mushroom Music Publishing, then got a window to America through a deal alliance struck between his WMA and the music major’s U.S. company.

Ticketmaster’s latest Top 10 also includes 1300, Barkaa, The Buoys, Glass Beams, Grazer, Kat Edwards and Telenova.

“Our teams across the world have their ears to the ground and their fingers on the pulse when it comes to artists ready to take the next step in their careers. Ticketmaster’s Breakthrough 2022 is about highlighting those artists, giving them a leg-up in what is a hugely competitive industry. We can’t wait to see where they play next,” comments Gloria Brancatisano, Ticketmaster’s Content Manager.

“From artists who have had mind-blowing introductions to their careers, to others who give important voice to their communities, and those already slowly amassing fans across the globe – all the artists in our list are ready to take their careers to the next level.”

Ticketmaster has some form. Its crop last year included JK-47, Sycco, Teenage Joans, and Yours Truly.

Ticketmaster Australia’s “Breakthrough 2022” is unveiled as parent Live Nation Entertainment reports record-setting demand for tickets, including a “best quarter ever” recorded in Q4 for its ticketing arm.

Driven by shows in the U.S. and U.K., ticket sales were “at a record pace across every metric with October, November and December being our top three months ever for ticketing gross transaction value, excluding refunded tickets,” reads LNE’s fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 report. “And the fourth quarter and second half of the year also set records for a quarter and six-month periods.”

Read more on Ticketmaster’s “Breakthrough” list and click here for LNE’s results.