Highway to hell? Reversing the decline of Australian music

These days, Aussie music is falling out of the charts, leaving local acts wondering if they’ll ever see your face again.

INXS. Kyle Minogue. Even the Wiggles. Australia has an incredible musical legacy, but with declining streaming numbers and revenues heading abroad, will the Aussie musician just become somebody we used to know? On this episode of Follow the Money, former Spotify Chief Economist Will Page and Australia Institute Research Manager Morgan Harrington join Ebony Bennett to discuss how to reverse the decline of Australian music.

A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘POD5’ at checkout to save $5 off the price – available for a limited time only.

Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia’s future by Professor George Williams is also available now.

Guest: Will Page, Strategic Advisory, Pivotal Economics

Guest: Morgan Harrington, Research Manager, the Australia Institute // @mhharrington

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett

Show notes:

Reversing the decline of Australian music: Australia’s ‘one way valve’ dilemma by Will Page and Morgan Harrington, the Australia Institute (November 2025)

Immy Owusu

RVG

Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions

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