The Death of the Australian Music Industry: Why It's So Hard for Musicians to Make a Living

What happened to Australian music — and what does its future look like? In this deeply personal episode of Better Than Yesterday, Osher Gunsberg takes a passionate look at the changing economics of the music industry and asks what the decline of the traditional music business has meant for Australian artists, audiences and culture. Drawing on his decades working across Australian radio, television, live music and the recording industry, Osher traces the transformation from the era of CDs, radio royalties and record-label development to Napster, digital piracy and today's streaming economy. He explores how the business model that once allowed labels to take risks on emerging artists has been replaced by an environment where algorithms, playlists and streaming revenue can make it increasingly difficult for new Australian musicians to break through. Osher also looks at the disappearance of major Australian music festivals and the decline of live music venues, arguing that these spaces were about far more than entertainment — they created shared cultural experiences that brought thousands of strangers together. He questions what happens to Australia's cultural identity when there are fewer opportunities for local musicians to develop, perform and connect with audiences. It's an in-depth look at the shifting trends in entertainment over the years, and how the internet and streaming has stripped away the ability for artists to make a viable living doing what they love. LINKS Check out Chris Kohler's podcast here Sign up to the Better Than Yesterday newsletter Watch episodes of Better Than Yesterday on YouTube Watch full stories recorded live at Story Club on YouTube Listen to the Story Club podcast Get tickets for our next Story Club show Get Osher's latest books here Send a pic of what you're looking at to [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.