Australia still a hot spot with global electro-dance industry now worth $10.4b

Australia is one of the major growth sectors of the global electronic music scene according to the latest IMS Business Report delivered in Ibiza this week.

Its UK-based author Kevin Watson made the presentation on the opening day of the International Music Summit (IMS).

The report combined figures for Australia and Asia, which show growth of 12%.

Latin America was up 17% and North America 14% but Europe put in a lacklustre performance with just a 0.1% rise.

The IMS Business Report estimated the value of the EDM scene at £5.7 billion (A$10.4 billion) in 2018/19.

This was a 1% drop in value, already following a 3% drop in 2017 and 2% in 2018.

The EDM scene is slowing, after it grew a whopping 60% in three years prior to 2017.

Watson says that recorded music, festivals, gaming and hardware and software are still growing.

But the number of nightclubs is decreasing, as is their revenue, and the earnings of DJs and artists also declined to their lowest point since 2013.

The total Top 10 of DJs was £203 million ($373.3 million) with Calvin Harris at the top with £38 million ($69.8 million).

The Chainsmokers were second with £35.9 million ($66 million).

The top-performing DJs at festivals were female, with Nina Kraviz playing 35 in a 12 month period, and Amelie Lens at second spot with 27 after playing just 4 in 2017.

Charlotte de Witte also made the top 5 at #4 with 24 festivals.

Kraviz, in fact, played nearly twice as many festivals as the top performing band, The Killers with 18.

However, only 19% of festival artists were female in 2018; 150+ events are aiming for 50% by 2022.

The most popular style at festivals was techno.

See the report here.