CMAA Artist/Performer Survey 2025

About This Survey

Dear Country Music Artist (Performer/Musician/Writer),
The Country Music Association of Australia, with the assistance of State and Federal Governments and Tamworth Regional Council, is undertaking a major research project to measure the current economic value and cultural significance of country music in Australia.

Most importantly, it will provide updated data on our 2019 research to gauge the extent of the sector's post-pandemic recovery.

The information you provide in your responses to this survey will help the CMAA and industry practitioners and supporters, to continue to lobby to preserve and promote the livelihood and viability of country music artists and businesses and help ensure the continued investment that creates thousands of jobs annually.

It will also help us all to create a better experience for country music fans.

It will give us all a powerful story to tell about the music we love and, hopefully, help all of you to make better-informed decisions at all career levels.

If you choose to answer the survey anonymously, please do so.

BUT, if you provide your email at the end of the survey, you'll enter the prize draw to win - a $750 Coles Giftcard (one artist) and a VIP double pass to the 2026 Golden Guitars (one artist).

Your email WILL NOT be shared with any third party.

If you are responding as a member of a DUO or GROUP, please ensure that only ONE member completes the survey.

CONFIDENTIALITY
If you do choose to provide your contact details I personally GUARANTEE that the information you provide WILL NOT be used for any purpose other than to help create the final report which will be released to the public in mid 2025.

You WILL NOT be identified individually in that report, NOR will any individual information be communicated by me to ANY third party (including the CMAA) without your express permission.

Should you have any queries, feel free to contact me – dobenewton@gmail.com

Thank you in advance for completing the survey. It'll take some time - but it's VERY important!

Dobe Newton
Research Project Manager & CMAA President

Question Title

* 1. What is your gender identity?

Female

Male

Non Binary

Other

Prefer Not To Say

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* 2. How old are you?

under 18

18-24

25-29

30-35

36-40

41-49

50-59

60-69

70 +

Prefer not to say

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* 3. What is your residential postcode?

Question Title

* 4. Do you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander?

Yes

Question Title

* 5. In the last 5 YEARS, have you relocated to take advantage of increased industry opportunities ? (Select ALL that apply)

From rural or regional area to Town (less than 50,000)

From rural or regional area to Major City

From Town to Major City

From Interstate

From Overseas

From a Major City to a regional/rural Town

None of These

Question Title

* 6. Are You ? (Select ALL options that apply)

A Vocalist

An Instrumentalist

A Songwriter

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* 7. HOW LONG have you been performing music in public (live gigs) ? (Select ONE)

1-2 Years

2-5 Years

5-8 Years

8-12 Years

12-15 Years

15-20 Years

20-25 Years

30-35 Years

35-40 Years

40 Years +

Question Title

* 8. Which instruments do you perform with REGULARLY ? (Check ALL that apply)

Voice

Acoustic Guitar

Electric Guitar

Mandolin

Keyboards

Drums

Ukelele

Percussion

Banjo

Violin

Laptop

Lap Steel/Dobro

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 9. As a performer/musician/writer, have you had FORMAL training ? (Select ALL that apply)

No formal training (self taught)

AMEB

School music program

TAFE

University

Conservatorium

Private Lessons

Industry Course (eg. Academy, SongHubs)

Private Tertiary provider (eg. JMC)

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 10. Which type of country music do you ENJOY listening to/watching ? (Select ALL that apply)

Bluegrass

Western Swing

Bush Ballad

Traditional Country

Folk/Celtic

Roots/Americana/ALT country

Contemporary Country Rock

Classic Country Rock

Contemporary Country Pop

Classic Country Pop

Outlaw Country

Australiana Country

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 11. Which type of country music do you REGULARLY PERFORM ? (Select ALL that apply)

Bluegrass

Western Swing

Bush Ballad

Traditional Country

Folk/Celtic

Roots/Americana/ALT country

Contemporary Country Rock

Classic Country Rock

Contemporary Country Pop

Classic Country Pop

Outlaw Country

Australiana Country

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 12. On AVERAGE, what percentage of your TIME per week is spent on your musical activities ? (select ONE)

0-10%

10-20%

20-30%

30-40%

40-50%

50-60%

60-70%

70-80%

80-90%

90-100%

Question Title

* 13. Approximately what percentage of your OVERALL INCOME comes from being a musician/writer/performer ? (Select ONE)

0-10%

0-20%

20-30%

30-40%

40-50%

50-60%

60-70%

70-80%

80-90%

90-100%

Question Title

* 14. How do you SUPPLEMENT your music income ? (Check ALL that apply)

Don't supplement

Part time work in the music industry

Casual work in the music industry

Part time work outside the music industry

Casual work outside the music industry

Receive government benefit

Receive student allowance

Sponsor support

Family/friend/partner support

Question Title

* 15. Do you REGULARLY perform ? (Select ALL that apply)

Solo - All Original Material

Solo - All Covers

Solo - Original & Covers

Duo - All original

Duo - All Covers

Duo - Original & Covers

Group (3+) - All Original

Group - All Covers

Group - Original & Covers

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* 16. If you perform SOLO, do you use a backing band ? (Select ONE)

Always

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Question Title

* 17. What percentage of the music you REGULARLY perform is ORIGINAL ? (Select ONE)

0-10%

10-20%

20-30%

30-40%

40-50%

50-60%

60-70%

70-80%

80-90%

90-100%

Question Title

* 18. How far do you REGULARLY travel to perform ? (Select ALL that apply)

1-10 Kms

11-30 Kms

31-50 Kms

51-100 Kms

101-200 Kms

201-300 Kms

Inserstate

Overseas

Question Title

* 19. How do you travel to LOCAL (1-20 Kms) gigs YOU PLAY ? (Select ALL that apply)

Walk

Public Transport

Own Vehicle

Taxi

Uber

Bike

Hire Vehicle

Question Title

* 20. How do you travel to REGIONAL and/or INTERSTATE Gigs YOU PLAY ? (Select ALL that Apply)

Own Vehicle

Hire Vehicle

Public Transport

Plane

Question Title

* 21. In the LAST 12 MONTHS, approximately HOW MANY TIMES did you PERFORM at a LOCAL/REGIONAL FESTIVAL ? (Select ONE)

1-2

3-5

6-10

11-15

16-20

21-25

25+

Question Title

* 22. In the LAST 12 MONTHS, approximately HOW MANY TIMES did you PERFORM at an INTERSTATE FESTIVAL ? (Select ONE)

1-2

3-5

6-10

11-15

16-20

21-25

25+

Question Title

* 23. In the LAST 12 MONTHS, approximately HOW MANY TIMES did you PERFORM at an OVERSEAS FESTIVAL ? (Select ONE)

1-2

3-5

6-10

11-15

16-20

21-25

25+

Question Title

* 24. In the LAST 12 MONTHS, approximately HOW MANY TIMES did you perform IN-CONCERT at a Theatre/Civic Centre/Licensed Club ? (Select ONE)

1-2

3-5

6-10

11-15

16-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61-70

70+

Question Title

* 25. In the LAST 12 MONTHS, approximately HOW MANY TIMES did you perform at a Hotel/Bar/Pub ? (Select ONE)

1-5

6-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-70

71-100

101-125

126-150

150+

Question Title

* 26. What percentage of your performances are FREE (no fee) ? (Select ONE)

1-10%

10-20%

21-30%

31-40%

41-50%

51-60%

61-70%

70%+

Question Title

* 27. When you do get paid, can you estimate your AVERAGE INCOME from a SOLO FESTIVAL appearance ? (Select ONE)

Don't Appear Solo

$1-25

$26-50

$51-100

$101-150

$150-250

$251-350

$351-450

$451-550

$550 +

Prefer Not To Say

Question Title

* 28. When you do get paid, can you estimate your AVERAGE INCOME from a SOLO CONCERT appearance ? (Select ONE)

Don't Appear Solo

$1-25

$26-50

$51-100

$101-150

$150-250

$251-350

$351-450

$451-550

$550 +

Prefer Not To Say

Question Title

* 29. When you do get paid, can you estimate your AVERAGE INCOME from a SOLO Club/hotel/Bar appearance ? (Select ONE)

Don't Appear Solo

$1-25

$26-50

$51-100

$101-150

$150-250

$251-350

$351-450

$451-550

$550 +

Prefer Not To Say

Question Title

* 30. When you do get paid, can you estimate your AVERAGE INCOME from a DUO FESTIVAL appearance ? (Select ONE)

Don't Perform in a Duo

$1-50

$51-100

$101-150

$151-250

$251-350

$351-450

$451-550

$551-700

$751-1000

$1001-1500

$1500 +

Prefer Not To Say

Question Title

* 31. When you do get paid, can you estimate your AVERAGE INCOME from a DUO CONCERT appearance ? (Select ONE)

Don't Perform in a Duo

$1-50

$51-100

$101-150

$151-250

$251-350

$351-450

$451-550

$551-700

$751-1000

$1001-1500

$1500 +

Prefer Not To Say

Question Title

* 32. When you do get paid, can you estimate your AVERAGE INCOME from a DUO Hotel/Club/Bar appearance ? (Select ONE)

Don't Perform in a Duo

$1-50

$51-100

$101-150

$151-250

$251-350

$351-450

$451-550

$551-700

$751-1000

$1001-1500

$1500 +

Prefer Not To Say

Question Title

* 33. When you do get paid, can you estimate your AVERAGE INCOME from a GROUP FESTIVAL appearance ? (Select ONE)

Don't Perform in a Group

$1-100

$101-250

$251-500

$501-1000

$1001-2000

$2001-3000

$3001-4000

$4001-5000

$5001-7000

$7001-10000

$10000 +

Prefer Not To Say

Question Title

* 34. When you do get paid, can you estimate your AVERAGE INCOME from a GROUP CONCERT appearance ? (Select ONE)

Don't Perform in a Group

$1-100

$101-250

$251-500

$501-1000

$1001-2000

$2001-3000

$3001-4000

$4001-5000

$5001-7000

$7001-10000

$10000 +

Prefer Not To Say

Question Title

* 35. When you do get paid, can you estimate your AVERAGE INCOME from a GROUP Hotel/Club/Bar appearance ? (Select ONE)

Don't Perform in a Group

$1-100

$101-250

$251-500

$501-1000

$1001-2000

$2001-3000

$3001-4000

$4001-5000

$5001-7000

$7001-10000

$10000 +

Prefer Not To Say

Question Title

* 36. Can you estimate what percentage of your MUSIC income comes from PAID LIVE PERFORMANCE ? (Select ONE)

1-10%

11-20%

21-30%

31-40%

41-50%

51-60%

61-70%

71-80%

81-90%

91-100%

Question Title

* 37. Can you estimate what percentage of your MUSIC income comes from BUSKING ? (Select ONE)

1-10%

11-20%

21-30%

31-40%

41-50%

51-60%

61-70%

71-80%

81-90%

91-100%

Don't Busk

Question Title

* 38. Can you estimate what percentage of your MUSIC income comes from SONGWRITING ROYALTIES (APRA AMCOS/Publisher (including overseas) ? (Select ONE)

1-10%

11-20%

21-30%

31-40%

41-50%

51-60%

61-70%

71-80%

81-90%

91-100%

Question Title

* 39. Can you estimate what percentage of your MUSIC income comes from RECORD SALES AT YOUR GIGS and/or YOUR WEBSITE ? (Select ONE)

1-10%

11-20%

21-30%

31-40%

41-50%

51-60%

61-70%

71-80%

81-90%

91-100%

Question Title

* 40. Can you estimate what percentage of your MUSIC income comes from RECORD ROYALTIES (Label/distributor) ? (Select ONE)

1-10%

11-20%

21-30%

31-40%

41-50%

51-60%

61-70%

71-80%

81-90%

91-100%

Question Title

* 41. Can you estimate what percentage of your MUSIC income comes from MERCHANDISE SALES At gigs and on your website (Other than recordings) ? (Select ONE)

1-10%

11-20%

21-30%

31-40%

41-50%

51-60%

61-70%

71-80%

81-90%

91-100%

Question Title

* 42. Which are you THREE favourite FESTIVALS to play ?

Question Title

* 43. Which are you THREE favourite CONCERT VENUES to play ?

Question Title

* 44. Which are you THREE favourite Hotel/Club (non concert)/Bar VENUES to play ?

Question Title

* 45. In the LAST 12 MONTHS, how many DEMO TRACKS did you RECORD ? (Select ONE)

1-5

6-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

40+

Question Title

* 46. In the LAST 12 MONTHS, how many TRACKS FOR COMMERCIAL RELEASE did you RECORD ? (Select ONE)

1-5

6-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

40+

Question Title

* 47. Where and with whom did you RECORD ? (Check ALL that apply)

Home Studio - self-produced

Home Studio - professional producer

Commercial Studio - self-produced

Commercial Studio - professional producer

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 48. How were the Recordings FINANCED ? (Check ALL that apply)

Self-financed

Prize

Family/Friends/Partner Support

Major Label

Independent Label

Grant

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 49. How were the recordings DISTRIBUTED ? (Check ALL that apply)

Demos Only - not distributed

Self-distributed - Physical copies sold at gigs

Self-distributed - Physical copies sold through own website

Self-distributed - Digital copies sold through own website

Through a 3rd party Distributor (physical copies)

Through Major Label (Physical & Digital - including iTunes, Spotify etc)

Through Independent Label (Physical & Digital - including iTunes, Spotify etc)

Soundcloud (Self)

Bandcamp (Self)

Through Digital Dowload retailer (iTunes etc) - Self

Through Streaming Service (Spotify, Apple Music etc) - Self

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 50. In the LAST 12 MONTHS, can you estimate your SALES of PHYSICAL SINGLES/EPs ? (Select ONE)

In order not to double-count, these sales questions (50-54) are for UNSIGNED artists ONLY.
IF you are SIGNED to a Major or Independent Label please GO TO Q.55

0-100

101-200

201-300

301-400

401-500

501-700

701-1000

1001-1500

1501-2000

2001-3000

3001-4000

4001-5000

5000 +

Question Title

* 51. In the LAST 12 MONTHS, can you estimate your SALES of PHYSICAL ALBUMS ? (Select ONE)

0-100

101-200

201-300

301-400

401-500

501-1000

1001-1500

1501-2000

2001-3000

3001-4000

4001-5000

5001-7000

7000-10000

10000 +

Question Title

* 52. In the LAST 12 MONTHS, can you estimate your SALES of DOWNLOAD SINGLES/TRACKS ? (Select ONE)

0-100

101-200

201-300

301-400

401-500

501-1000

1001-1500

1501-2000

2001-3000

3001-4000

4001-5000

5001-7000

7000-10000

10000 +

Question Title

* 53. In the LAST 12 MONTHS, can you estimate your SALES of DOWNLOAD ALBUMS ? (Select ONE)

0-100

101-200

201-300

301-400

401-500

501-1000

1001-1500

1501-2000

2001-3000

3001-4000

4001-5000

5001-7000

7000-10000

10000 +

Question Title

* 54. In the LAST 12 MONTHS, can you estimate your NUMBER of SINGLE TRACK STREAMS ? (Select ONE)

0-100

101-500

501-800

801-1200

1201-1500

1501-2000

2001-4000

4001-7000

7001-10000

10001-15000

15001-25000

25001-40000

40001-70000

700001-100000

100,001-200,000

200001-300000

300000-500000

500000 +

Question Title

* 55. In the LAST 12 MONTHS have you created PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS ? (Select ALL that apply)

Haven't created videos

1-5 Videos created by self/friend/family member

1-5 Videos created by amateur videographer

1-5 Videos created by professional videographer

6-10 Videos created by self/friend/family member

6-10 Videos created by amateur videographer

6-10 Videos created by professional videographer

Question Title

* 56. How were these videos FINANCED ? (Select ALL that apply)

All Self-Financed

Some Self-Financed

All Financed by Label

Some Financed by Label

Financed by Grant

Financed through sponsorship

Done as a favour

Other (please specify)