A recent survey by Green Music Australia reveals that 85% of festival attendees have experienced the impact of extreme weather at events over the past year.
If it feels like unfavorable weather has been increasingly interrupting a variety of your beloved festivals, you’re not alone in that perception. According to a report by Green Music Australia, a striking 85% of festival-goers in Australia attended events that were influenced by extreme weather conditions in the last year.
The report, titled Rain, Heat, Repeat: How Music Fans are Experiencing Extreme Weather, draws on surveys conducted by researchers from RMIT and La Trobe University in Melbourne. Their findings reveal that 85% of participants reported experiencing extreme weather conditions during live music events.
While the report does not provide a specific definition for “extreme weather,” other data corroborates its alarming findings. It notes that 68% of those surveyed faced extreme heat at festivals during the same period, and 45% experienced heavy rainfall. Notably, 29% of festival-goers indicated that they now check the weather forecast before purchasing tickets, which suggests a shift in consumer behavior impacting ticket sales.
“The traditional model of the festival industry depends on a certain number of tickets being sold early,” said RMIT Associate Professor Catherine Strong in an interview with The Guardian. “People are now becoming cautious about the weather, which leads them to delay their ticket purchases until they can closely monitor forecasts. This change complicates how festivals assess their viability… and for many, that’s just not feasible. A last-minute cancellation can incur significant costs for artist cancellation fees and raise insurance premiums.”
For a comprehensive look at the findings, read the full report and visit the Green Music Australia website to explore the organization’s proposed solutions.
