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Music Data & Insights Summit


  • CY Venue (formerly Music Market) 35 Johnston Street Collingwood, VIC, 3066 Australia (map)

VMDO Music Data and Insights Summit
Shaping the industry with the latest data

$30 day ticket
$50 two-day value ticket
Lunch, morning and afternoon tea provided

Register here

This is  your chance to understand current trends and insights that can inform future innovative strategies. 

The VMDO Music Data and Insights Summit is a thought-provoking and illuminating catalyst for new ideas that aim to inspire and inform music professionals.

Over two days at Collingwood Yards, the summit will feature  keynotes, panels and presentations covering a range of topics such as live music venue data, workplace skills trends, music consumer insights and analysis of the streaming economy.

The summit is delivered by the VMDO and supported by Music Australia and the Music Industry Research Collective.

The CY Venue at Collingwood Yards is an accessible space and the summit welcomes everyone.

Monday April 28

Doors and light breakfast from 9am

9:30am Welcome to country

9:45am KEYNOTE: The value of insights through a First Nations perspective 

  • Neil Morris (Artist, Traditional Owner and Victorian Music Industry Advisory Council)

Neil Morris will speak to ideas around First Nations epistemologies, values systems and measurements. This keynote will aim to provoke ideas around how First Nations systems of knowing and measuring can provide insights on Indigenous forms of data driven approaches that hold potential broader outcomes and benefits.

10:30am PRESENTATION: From tickbox to transformation – how we are co-creating an inclusive music industry

Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV) and Co Culture reflect on how the resilience of musicians and music workers of colour is driving industry transformation.

11:15am BREAK

11:30am IN CONVERSATION: Unpacking the 2024 UK Live Report for Australia

At the end of 2024, LIVE, the voice of the UK’s live music industry, released data showing the sector’s contribution to the UK economy last year exceeded £6 billion for the first time. The report identifies social, cultural and economic contributions and reveals how live music continued to recover from the pandemic, tackled challenges like high inflation and the cost-of-living crisis. Understand which numbers count and how this data can be applied to Australia.

12:30pm Lunch

1:15pm PRESENTATION: Current Australian live music research round-up 

Current insights can influence policies and create more efficient operations. Learn about some recent Australian music research on venues, festivals, audiences, value and emerging issues. As well as sharing a guide to access key research, the presentation will highlight gaps in knowledge and priorities for future work.

The Music Industry Research Collective (MIRC) is an interdisciplinary group of researchers based at RMIT University. It aims to bring together researchers, practitioners and audiences from across the academic and music sectors. 

This presentation is supported by the Music Industry Research Collective (MIRC).

2pm PRESENTATION: Live music insights from Aotearoa

Through its research, Massey University established the first national evidence base for the economic and wellbeing contributions of the live performance sector to Aotearoa. Listen to some of the research team explain how data can be used to articulate the value of the sector to government and policy makers.

2:45pm RESEARCH: Green Music Australia launch new research: Rain, Heat, Repeat – How music fans are experiencing extreme weather

Green Music Australia will launch its new research, Rain, Heat, Repeat. It draws on a survey of over 1,000 fans to reveal how extreme weather is impacting audiences and reshaping the live music experience. Green Music Australia CEO Berish Bilander and Miranda Nicol (Untitled Group) will discuss how festivals and the broader industry can respond to these growing challenges using data, storytelling and collaboration.

3:15pm Break

3:30pm PANEL: Why data matters – how do we make policy great again?

With days out from a federal election, the sector is calling for robust policies that amplify Australian music, expand global exports, strengthen creative rights, support innovation, develop audience reach and supercharge investments in live music and industry growth.

Hear from some of Australia's key music policy makers about the importance of research. The panel will reflect on how insights can influence the development of government policies that could build future investment for the music sector. Learn about which insights matter and what data is missing.

4:30pm DEBATE: Data or Vibe –  how do we determine the value of an artist’s career?

Team Data

Team Vibe

Youth music organisation The Push have built two stellar teams to debate one of the big challenges in music today. Do we vote for a data led industry or is it just the vibe?

5:30pm HOMETIME

Tuesday April 29

Doors and light breakfast from 9am

9:30am RESEARCH: VMDO and RMIT University launch new research: Skills & Roles – Support workers in Victorian music industries 

The VMDO will launch its new commission with RMIT University: Skills & Roles – Support workers in Victorian music industries. Led by RMIT University, the research responds to the music industry challenges to maintain and develop its workforce. It suggests that support workers are vital to the music industry and reveals that over 50% Victorian music professionals currently maintain multiple support roles. Learn about the gaps and how to assist support workers build sustainable careers.

10am PANEL: Insights from the latest research on the challenges of building capacity and skills in Australia’s music industry

Following the launch of the new VMDO skills and roles research and other music career insights led by Support Act and Service and Creative Skills Australia (SaCSA) with Creative Australia, hear from a panel of industry experts and academics discuss the challenges around developing  skills in the music workforce. Find out what this recent research is revealing and how we can support the sector.

This panel is supported by RMIT University.

10:45am Break

11:00am PRESENTATION: Tuning into Policy - The case of community music radio

What is the role and impact of community music radio within the diverse Australian media-music landscape? In this presentation, Shane Homan discusses a three-year project funded by the Australian Research Council examining the cultural and economic contribution of community music radio to the national music economy. Beyond providing an overview of project themes and potential findings, he will also examine the wider implications related to both Community Broadcasting Australia's Roadmap 2033 (2024) and the Federal Government's REVIVE (2023) policy documents. 

11:50am PRESENTATION: Understanding the impact of the streaming economy on artist income and discovery

  • Tim Kelly (Music industry researcher and analyst)

Utilising ARIA chart and revenue data, this presentation explores the impact of the streaming economy on new and Australian music. It considers the effect of streaming on artist income and discovery.

12:35pm PRESENTATION: The speed of cash in the music economy 

There is no argument that streaming has transformed the music industry almost beyond recognition. This is a chance to consider the cash flow implications of streaming. Leaning on the economics of discount rates and present value, this provocation explores the impact of slow cash on investment, talent development, artist management and the long run value of music.

1:05pm Lunch

2pm RESEARCH: Music Australia launch part one of the Listening In research series: Insights on live music attendance

Listening In is a three-part research series. Music Australia will launch its first report, Insights on live music attendance and a panel of music industry experts will unpack its findings. This first report offers valuable insights into audience behaviours, preferences and attitudes towards live music in the context of changing social and economic conditions. The Listening In series identifies how Australians discover, experience and engage with music. It is supported by a partnership with Untitled Group and The Daily Aus, and in collaboration with The Push.  

The session will include:

  • Music Australia highlighting the role of research

  • Creative Australia and Music Australia giving an overview of music research projects 

  • Key findings from the Listening In: Insights on live music attendance report

  • Panel discussion on the live attendance report 

  • Networking reception

This panel is supported by Music Australia.

4pm - Networking

6pm - HOMETIME

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