Primary Wave CEO Larry Mestel Says Australia Has ‘Work to Do’ in Global Pop Race

Primary Wave founder and CEO Larry Mestel believes Australia has long punched above its weight musically - but says the country still has “a little bit of work to do” to fully compete in today’s global pop landscape.

In a new interview with Variety Australia, Mestel praised Australia’s legacy of globally influential artists, pointing to acts including INXS, Olivia Newton-John, AC/DC and Bee Gees as proof of the country’s outsized cultural impact.

“In terms of legacy, I think Australia punches over its playing weight,” he said. "It’s hard to argue that Australia isn’t a hotbed for some of the greatest legacy artists of all time.”

However, Mestel suggested the current global pop conversation has shifted significantly in recent years, with international audiences increasingly focused on dominant global stars and fast-growing international markets.

“It’s interesting now, there’s so much attention to things like K-pop and the Dua Lipas of the world,” he said. “I think that Australia, like other English-speaking territories, has a little bit of work to do to get up into the pop lexicon.”

Mestel was in Sydney this week for the 2026 APRA Awards, where INXS, who recently partnered with the music publishing company to manage their catalogue, received the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music.

"It’s an honour for us to even be associated with the band. They’re such great guys, And, you know, at the time they were the biggest band in the world, so this is a very meaningful thing I’m sure for them," he said of the recognition.

Read the full interview here.