Australians are streaming more music than ever, but homegrown artists are getting a smaller slice of the listening. And for Queensland’s emerging bands and live music venues, the warning signs extend well beyond Spotify playlists.
Australian music creators accounted for just 8.5 per cent of domestic audio streams in the 2025–26 financial year, according to the latest APRA AMCOS Year in Review.
That is down from 9.5 per cent a year earlier and 13.6 per cent five years ago — a relative decline of 37.5 per cent in Australian members’ share of local audio streaming.
Put another way, more than 91 per cent of music streamed in Australia during the financial year was made by international creators.
What happens when local music is harder to find?
Streaming is one of the places people discover their next favourite artist. For emerging Queensland musicians, finding those first listeners can lead to community radio support, a local gig, a bigger audience and, eventually, a sustainable career.
APRA AMCOS chief executive Dean Ormston says the shrinking share of Australian music threatens that pathway from discovery to the live stage. The organisation projects that Australian members’ share of domestic streaming could approach five per cent within another five years if current trends continue.
That’s a concern for artists trying to break through in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast and regional Queensland, where smaller gigs are often where new audiences and careers begin.
Record music revenue, but pressure on smaller gigs
It’s not all bad news for the Australian industry. APRA AMCOS reported record group revenue of $857.4 million, up 8.8 per cent, with net distributable revenue to members and rightsholders reaching $755.7 million.
But the report also points to audiences spending heavily on major international tours while mid-tier shows and smaller festivals face softer sales and greater price sensitivity.
Those are different measures — record industry revenue does not mean every artist or local venue is thriving.
For Queensland’s grassroots scene, the combination raises a familiar question: how do new bands build an audience when competing for attention online and for ticket sales in an increasingly crowded market?
How Queensland listeners can help
There’s no single fix. APRA AMCOS is advocating for minimum Australian-music requirements on platforms and a federal live music tax incentive.
But listeners have a part to play too. Adding a local artist to a playlist, sharing a new release, following a band after a support set or buying a ticket to a small show can help connect discovery with real-world support.
Queensland has no shortage of talent. The challenge is making sure people hear it — and turn up when it plays.
Explore more local artists and shows through YELO’s Brisbane Musicians Directory and Queensland gig guides.
Source: APRA AMCOS, 2025–26 Year in Review, released 20 October 2026.
Featured image: Sunshine Coast band SPEIRA performing at Venue 114. Photo: @yeahalrightcool / YELO file.
