News April 18, 2025

VMDO Launches First-Ever Music Data and Insights Summit in Melbourne

The Victorian Music Development Office (VMDO) has announced the launch of its inaugural Music Data and Insights Summit, taking place at Collingwood Yards from April 28–29, 2025.

With a focus on the intersection of data, policy, and culture, the summit aims to equip music professionals, academics, and policymakers with cutting-edge research and insights to shape the future of the Australian music industry.

“It is important that we understand the latest music industry research, trends and insights so that policies, regulation and investment that affect the sector remain current and relevant,” said VMDO General Manager Kirsty Rivers.

“The VMDO is pleased to present our new summit and know it will be a thought-provoking and illuminating catalyst for new ideas.”

Across two days, the program will feature keynotes, panel discussions, and presentations delving into live music venue data, music consumer behaviour, skills and workplace trends, First Nations and cultural perspectives, and the economics of streaming.

Award-winning music journalist and broadcaster Sosefina Fuamoli will MC the summit, which opens on Monday 28 April with a keynote from Neil Morris, artist and Victorian Music Industry Advisory Council member, on the cultural value of music insights through a First Nations lens.

International perspectives will be provided by UK-based strategist Chris Carey, who will break down the 2024 UK Live Report alongside Paige X Cho of Bolster Group. Other panels will explore the resilience of music workers of colour (Lauren Mullings, Leah Avene), gaps in live music data (Dr Ben Green, RMIT), and sustainable festival futures (Berish Bilander, Miranda Nicol).

A standout session moderated by Nicholas Pickard (APRA AMCOS) will bring together top music policy figures – Millie Millgate (Music Australia), Meg Williams (Creative Victoria) and Emily Collins (Sound NSW) – to discuss how data is influencing cultural and policy decisions across the country.

Tuesday’s program kicks off with Associate Professor Catherine Strong (RMIT) launching Skills & Roles – Support Workers in Victorian Music Industries, a new VMDO-commissioned study that shines a light on often-overlooked music industry roles. The panel discussion includes Rachel Simoons (SaCSA), Dr Ash King (Support Act), Dr Ben Eltham (CrewCare, Monash University), and Associate Professor Jani K.T. Wilson (University of Canterbury).

Other highlights include deep dives into the economics of streaming with Tim Kelly and Chris Carey, and a lighthearted but insightful debate moderated by Robert Baxter (The Push), pitting Team Data against Team Vibe.

To close out the summit, Music Australia will take the stage to launch the first in its Listening In report series: Insights on Live Music Attendance—a major new research initiative investigating who is attending gigs in Australia and why.

The session will explore how audience behaviours have shifted, what’s driving (or hindering) attendance, and how this data can be used to strengthen the live music sector, with a panel of speakers including Millie Millgate (Music Australia), Rebecca Mostyn (Creative Australia), Belinda Balhatchet (Creative Australia), Michael Christidis (Untitled Group), Nathan Farrell (CLBR), Doctor Christen Cornell (Creative Australia), Claire Qian (The Push) and Sam Koslowski (The Daily Aus).

A networking reception will follow, giving attendees the opportunity to reflect on insights and build new connections across the industry.