Survey evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on Australian musicians and implications for policy

This study provides survey evidence concerning how COVID-19 has impacted Australian musicians. Between June and July 2020, we surveyed 203 musicians about the effects of the pandemic on their employment and income. Using a Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) model, we investigate sentiment concerning future employment and income opportunities. We find evidence that this sentiment correlates most strongly with general sentiment about industry demand returning post COVID-19. We find no evidence that short-term income support makes a difference to sentiment about future opportunities. Similarly, we find no evidence that pivoting towards online media strategies has improved such sentiment. In addition to recent supply-side policies, our results suggest demand-side policies can play an important role in the medium to long term by ensuring musicians do not leave the industry.

Automated summary

This study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on Australian musicians and finds that sentiment about future employment and income opportunities is most strongly correlated with industry demand returning post COVID-19. Short-term income support and pivoting towards online media strategies do not seem to improve such sentiment. The results suggest that demand-side policies can play a crucial role in ensuring musicians do not leave the industry in the medium to long term.