BIGSOUND Reported to be Worth $20 Million to Qld Economy

A new report from the University of the Sunshine Coast has highlighted the economic impact of the annual BIGSOUND conference.

According to the report authored by Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Music, Dr Andy Ward, the Fortitude Valley event is worth $20.15 million to Queensland's economy, while the 2025 edition this past September generated 269 jobs across the creative and hospitality sectors and "returned $10.85 in community value for every one dollar ($1) of public investment".

Minister for the Arts, John-Paul Langbroek, said the report shows that BIGSOUND has cemented Queensland's reputation as a live music destination.

“The Queensland Government is proud to invest in QMusic’s presentation of BIGSOUND, which supports the priorities of our 10-year arts and cultural strategy, Queensland’s Time to Shine and its commitment to growing our creative economy," Langbroek said.

“QMusic is delivering on this commitment by working with the Night-life Economy Commissioner and industry practitioners to encourage live music programming that activates Queensland venues and precincts and supports jobs for our creative workforce.”

John (JC) Collins AM - Night-Life Economy Commissioner/Director and Co-owner Fortitude Music Hall and The Triffid, added: “BIGSOUND is the engine room of Australia’s music economy. In the year 2000, a group of Queenslanders decided to have a crack producing a series of weeknight music seminars dedicated to upskilling their local scene – 25 years later that very idea is worth more than 20M to Queensland’s economy.”

“Our nightlife and creative industries need events like BIGSOUND, supporting them is supporting a thriving, connected future for our state.”

The 2025 edition saw 4,200 festival goers, including over 1,700 official delegates participating in over 500 event with 138 speakers and 130 bands. All while up to 10,000 fans attended the free all-ages stages in Brunswick St Mall and Goolwal Garden (Sound Garden) daily.

Doubling as a showcase artist bootcamp, it brought a curated selection of international heavy hitters to hear and see fresh Australian sounds and facilitates more than 750 artist meetings, along with multiple performance and development opportunities. Keynotes were delivered by some of Australia’s powerful artistic voices including BRIGGS, Mallrat and Tash Sultana.

International heavyweights at the conference and showcase included Blur drummer and author, Dave Rowntree – who shouted out Northern Rivers/Melbourne-based alt-rock group Loose Content as his favourite BIGSOUND act – and renowned British music executive Darcus Beese OBE – who shouted out BIG NOTER as a highlight. Meanwhile, radio giants including Ariana Morgenstern (KCRW) and Deb Grant (BBC Radio 6) represented just some of the key media figures who brought their wealth of knowledge to Brisbane to upskill and develop artists and industry workers alike.

BIGSOUND will return in 2026 for a milestone 25th year from September 1-4, with organisers already commencing planning and programs.

Tickets are expected to go on sale in early 2026.