2024-25 Survey

  • MEAA Musicians Australia Survey 2024-25

  • If you are having trouble filling in this survey please call 0489 994 232 to organise completing it over the phone.

     

    Musicians Australia is the union for Australia's working musicians. We're an organisation led by our members, working to build a better, fairer and more sustainable music industry. 

    Each year, we conduct a Survey to help us research the state of the music industry. Your responses will help us work together on our plan to win greater recognition and respect for all working musicians, in 2025 and beyond.

    We acknowledge and understand that musicians engage in a diverse range of work and that it may follow cyclical patterns beyond a traditional calendar year. Therefore, as you respond to our survey, we appreciate your efforts to provide your best estimates for 2025.

    All respondents will go in the running to win 1 X $500 gift voucher to a select music store. 

    This survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

    Your responses will be kept confidential and all identifying attributes will be removed.

    *Please note: All information collected will be dealt with in accordance with the MEAA Privacy Policy. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact musiciansaustralia@meaa.org.

  • General Information

    This section is about you.
  • What is your gender?*
  • What is your age?*
  • Are you an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander?*
  • Do you identify with any of the following groups? (Select all that apply)*
  • What state/territory do you live in?*

  • Your Place in the Industry

    This section is about your role(s) and experience(s) in the music industry.
  • How many years of experience do you have working as a musician?*
  • What is the highest *music related* education you have received?*
  • Which types of gigs do you usually play? (Select all that apply)*
  • What roles do you currently undertake in the music industry? (Select all that apply)*
  • As a musician, are you employed under: (Select all that apply)*
  • Do you work in the music industry:*
  • Select the one which applies to you:*
  • How much of your total income (including from non-music sources) comes from music?*
  • On average, how many music jobs do you earn income from?*
  • On average, how many non-music jobs do you earn income from?*
  • What area of the music industry do you get the bulk of your music income from?*
  • What proportion of your music work is spent on original content creation?*
  • Are you signed to a record label?*
  • Are you signed to a publisher?*
  • Business status:*
  • Do you have a booking agent?*
  • What percentage of fees does your agent take?
  • Do you have a manager?*
  • What percentage of fees does your manager take?
  • What are the main reasons/barriers to you working in music full-time?*
  • How many of your gigs are paid?*
  • On average, how much do you earn (as an individual) for a gig?*
  • Rows
  • How often are you paid according to your performance agreement/contract?*
  • Rows
  • How do you promote and market your music? (Select all that apply)*

  • The following questions relate to the superannuation guarantee.

  • Are you aware that musicians are eligible to receive the superannuation guarantee?*
  • What proportion of gigs do you receive the superannuation guarantee for?*
  • When venues/contractees/employers don’t pay the superannuation guarantee, do you make any personal super contributions for your music work?*
  • In your opinion, why do you think venues/contractees/employers don't pay the superannuation guarantee?*
  • Do you have any savings?*
  • Did you earn royalties distributed by APRA AMCOS in the year 2023/24?*
  • Did you earn sound recording royalties distributed by PPCA in the year 2023/24?*
  • Has your music been scraped for the purposes of training AI?*
  • Are you concerned about record labels entering into license agreements with AI developers to use music without the consent of artists?*
  • Have you noticed any actual decline in your income associated with the emergence of synthetic music generated via AI?*
  • Are you incorporating the use of generative AI (genAI) into your music practice?*
  • Do you feel that copyright provides enough protections for musicians against exploitation from AI?*
  • Within the last 12 months, did you receive any crisis relief grants from Support Act?*
  • In the last year, have you received any money from the Government? (Select all that apply)*
  • What insurances do you require for your work as a musician? (Select all that apply)*
  • As a musician, do you manage your own financial affairs?*

  • Costs

    This section is about the financial costs you incur as a musician
  • What costs do you incur as a musician?*
  • What is the approximate total cost of the musical instruments you use to earn an income?
  • What is the approximate combined cost of the other gear (e.g. sound equipment) you use to earn an income?
  • What is the *annual* cost of your Music insurances (e.g. public liability)?
  • On average, what are your *per gig* travel costs (e.g. petrol, parking, public transport, etc)?
  • What is the *annual* cost of your accountant?
  • On average, what is the *per gig* cost of your Booking Agent?
  • On average, how much do you spend each *month* on marketing (i.e. social media, website, press kits, promotional materials, PR)?
  • On average, what are your *annual* recording expenses (i.e. studio time, engineer, mixing, mastering, distribution)?

  • Safety

    Dealing with injuries and feeling safe at work
  • Have you ever been injured at work or while travelling to and from work?*
  • What types of injury did you suffer from?*
  • What proportion of venues/gigs do you think provide safe workplaces for musicians?*
  • Would you agree or disagree with the following statement: "Working as a gigging musician is inherently unsafe/dangerous."*
  • Have you been bullied, harassed, or discriminated against in the music industry? If so, on what basis?*
  • How often have you experienced this?*
  • Have you ever witnessed bullying, harassment, or discrimination in the music industry?*
  • How often have you witnessed this?*
  • For any of the above, did you report the incident to the venue/contractee/employer?*

  • Final Thoughts

    This information will help our members address the chronic issues which exist across the music industry
  • Overall, do you think the music industry treats working musicians fairly?*
  • What other music organisations are you a member of? (Select all that apply)*
  • Do you support MEAA/Musicians Australia initiating industry-level discussions in order to achieve a minimum fee and better conditions for working musicians?*
  • Are you a MEAA/Musicians Australia member?*
  • Would you like to stay up to date on the outcome of this survey and our advocacy?*
  • Format: 0400 000 000.

  • Your information will be handled in accordance with the MEAA privacy policy.

  • Should be Empty: