Leslie Massey
Music is an integral part of Australian life, with Australians consuming up to four hours of music every day. The country has a rich history of indigenous music, with instruments like the didgeridoo and unique performance styles such as bunggul. Contemporary indigenous music covers various genres, including rock and roll, country, hip hop, and reggae. Australians also enjoy live music, with social connection and FOMO driving their attendance at concerts, despite economic pressures. Radio is the most popular method of music listening, followed by streaming services like YouTube and Spotify, which is the biggest revenue earner for musicians.
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What You'll Learn
Music as a spiritual expression
Music is an integral part of Australians' lives, with one-third of Australians saying that music is their life and their number one passion. They listen to music for about three to four hours daily. In Aboriginal Australia, music and dance are key means of communicating and experiencing spirituality. Their performance becomes a form of collective self-actualisation, where deference and respect for the land and country are demonstrated.
In Aboriginal societies, there is no strict demarcation between the law and culture, and religious and legal institutions. The system of governance in Aboriginal communities concentrates spiritual wisdom in the hands of the Elders, who become the custodians of the law. The songs and dances in Aboriginal societies capture the history of the community and contain the stories, teachings, and laws of a particular community. They are both the maps and the ordinances governing a clan's country and are a celebration and legislation in one artistic form.
In Yanyuwa culture, the boundaries between the sacred and the secular are blurred. There is only one world, one environment, one country that is simultaneously material and spiritual. The spiritual is tied to the everyday lived reality and is immersed in seemingly mundane pragmatic activities. Practices such as singing establish an immutable relationship between the spirit of place and the spirit of people. Yanyuwa cosmology allows the Western terms spirit and spirituality to be used in many circumstances but always tied to the expression and performativity of people's relationships to kin and country.
In Yolngu culture, land is their "everything", and everything arises from their land—their ideology, their spirituality, their music, and their art. The songs of the Yolngu are sacred and are called kujika. These songs tell the story of the Dreaming as they travelled over the country. These songs are like maps, telling about the country and are maps that are carried in their heads.
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Australian music awards
Music is an integral part of Australian culture, with Australians consuming up to four hours of music daily. The country also boasts a thriving music industry, recognised annually through prestigious awards ceremonies such as the ARIA Music Awards and the Australian Music Prize.
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards, commonly known as the ARIA Music Awards or simply the ARIAs, are Australia's premier music awards. Established in 1987, the ARIAs celebrate excellence and innovation across all genres of Australian music. The awards encompass genre-specific and popular categories, Fine Arts Awards, Artisan Awards, Achievement Awards, and the prestigious ARIA Hall of Fame.
The ARIA Hall of Fame honours Australian musicians who have made significant contributions and achieved global impact. Artists eligible for ARIA Awards must be Australian citizens or permanent residents, and the awards are entirely peer-voted.
The ARIAs have played a pivotal role in recognising diverse talents, from The Wiggles, who have earned multiple ARIA Awards for Best Children's Album, to The Presets, who won multiple ARIAs for their fusion of electro-house and synth-pop. The awards also extend beyond Australian artists, with international superstars like Taylor Swift receiving recognition for Most Popular International Artist.
Australian Music Prize (AMP)
The Australian Music Prize (AMP) offers a different take on music awards. Established in 2005, the AMP aims to encourage and financially reward Australian artists who produce and release exceptional contemporary music albums. The prize is worth $50,000 and is awarded annually to a band or solo artist, providing a significant boost to the recipient's career.
Both the ARIA Music Awards and the Australian Music Prize play a crucial role in celebrating and promoting Australian musical talent, contributing to the vibrant and diverse music landscape of the country.
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Radio as the most popular medium
Radio is the most popular medium for music in Australia, with 48% of Australians choosing it as their preferred method of listening to music. This equates to around 16 million people, according to a recent survey. Radio is also the most common way for Australians to discover live gigs, with 44% of people finding out about music events through this medium.
Radio is a powerful medium for both information and entertainment, and Australians tune in for a variety of reasons. The three most popular reasons given by respondents to a survey were for local news and information, to hear music that isn't available on other stations, and to support local artists by listening to Australian music. Radio is also a popular way to find financial advice, with shows like The Ramsey Show offering budgeting tips and debt management strategies.
Radio shows in Australia offer a blend of tradition and innovation, with a mix of classic serials and comedies, alongside modern talkback and advice programs. There is a wide variety of content available, from entertainment and information to financial guidance, catering to a range of tastes and preferences.
The popularity of radio in Australia is evident in the enduring success of classic shows like "Yes, What?", which first aired from 1936 to 1941 and continues to be rebroadcast, and "The John Laws Radio Show", which has been influential in shaping public opinion. Today, popular Australian radio shows include "The Pick Up", a drive-time show featuring lifestyle topics and relatable stories, and "Jase & Lauren" on Nova 100, the most-listened-to breakfast show in the country.
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Indigenous music
Indigenous Australian music has covered numerous contemporary styles, including rock and roll, country, hip hop, and reggae. The didgeridoo is a traditional instrument that has become internationally familiar and is now considered the national instrument of Aboriginal Australians. It is played by blowing through a long tube without finger holes, sometimes fitted with a beeswax mouthpiece. Clapsticks are another traditional instrument that falls into the category of percussion. In terms of rhythm, the music of Aboriginal Australians typically remains consistent within a piece without accelerating or decelerating, although the concepts of double time and half time may be employed to adjust the energy and speed.
Music and dance are key means of communicating and experiencing spirituality in Aboriginal Australia. The performance of ancient, sacred songs and accompanying dance is a way of demonstrating deference and respect to the land and country, and acknowledging one's own place within them. The Dreaming, or Dreamtime, is an important concept in Aboriginal culture, and music and song help Aboriginal people connect more closely to this.
Unfortunately, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customs, arts, and musical practices are not shared with Western society as a way to assert autonomy and cultural definition. This is partly due to the deliberate policies of eradicating customs and culture pursued by white people during the forced assimilation of the 19th and 20th centuries. As a result, academics and the general public do not always have a full picture of Aboriginal musical practices.
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Live music events
A report by Creative Australia and Music Australia reveals that social connection and FOMO (fear of missing out) are key factors attracting audiences to live music events. While cost is a significant barrier, with associated expenses such as travel, accommodation, and food and drinks adding up, Australians are willing to save up and spend on experiences that matter to them. This has led to a decline in attendance at pubs and clubs, with major venues and festivals becoming more popular settings for live music.
The choice between Australian and international acts also influences attendance. While Australian music is highly valued and considered easier to access, audiences may prioritise international acts seen as 'once-in-a-lifetime' opportunities. Additionally, factors such as aesthetic judgment, family responsibilities, and perceptions of social and cultural norms can impact attendance, with certain venues and events perceived as exclusive or catering to specific demographics.
Performers at live music events in Australia can obtain royalties for their performances by submitting Performance Reports through the APRA AMCOS for Music Creators App or the Writer Portal. These reports help ensure that original songwriters are credited and compensated for their work, including when covers are performed.
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Frequently asked questions
Music is a vital part of Indigenous Australians' cultural maintenance and a key means of communicating and experiencing spirituality. Traditional forms of Indigenous music include the use of instruments such as the didgeridoo and performance elements like the bunggul dance.
Australians listen to an average of 3 to 4 hours of music per day. Radio is the most popular method of music listening, used by 48% of Australians, followed by CDs and free video streaming at 44%. Australians also frequently attend live music events, with 60% attending at least one event per year.
Pop music is the most popular genre in Australia, with 59% of adults listening regularly. Other popular genres include rock, country, hip-hop, rap, and reggae, with notable Indigenous artists such as Baker Boy, Mojo Juju, and Thelma Plum gaining recognition in these genres.
Music continues to play an important role in the lives of Australians, with an increasing emphasis on streaming services and social media for music discovery. While spending on recorded music has increased, investment in live music and merchandise has decreased. Australians are still willing to prioritise live music experiences, especially those that bring people together.
