Pop superstars like Taylor Swift may soon be forced to use Australian talent as their support acts when touring Down Under.
A music industry lobby group has suggested visa restrictions and a quota system as ways to make sure Aussie talent get a spot on international tours.
If a superstar like Swift, who made $100million playing four Sydney shows on her recent Eras tour – refused to comply, they would be denied entry under the proposed regulation.
The practice of international acts using Down Under groups and solo artists while playing big arenas and concerts in Australia was the ‘done thing’ for decades.
But it was not regulated in anyway and international acts in the last year, including Taylor Swift and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers – have used non-Australian performers on their tours.
Pop superstars like Taylor Swift (pictured) may soon be forced to use Australian talent as their support acts when touring Down Under. A music industry lobby group has suggested visa restrictions and a quota system as ways to make sure Aussie talent get a spot on international tours
Pearl Jam, Blink 182 and SZA also chose to ignore local talent and toured with international acts when they played Down Under recently.
Swift used U.S. performer Sabrina Carpenter on her Eras Tour, whereas back in 2013 she had Guy Sebastian as her support, while Vance Joy scored a gig with her in 2015.
According to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday the Association of Artists Managers is pushing hard for regulation on international acts.
Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke told the SMH the government did want to add any restrictions on international acts adding: ‘It shouldn’t be too much to ask that there be an Australian support act.’
International acts in the last year, including Taylor Swift and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers – have used non-Australian performers on their tours. Guy Sebastian supported Taylor Swift back in 2013 (pictured in Sydney in 2023)
The proposed new regulation would mean massive exposure for local performers in a live music sector that is currently struggling. Pictured: US singer Sabrina Carpenter supported Swift on the Aussie leg of her Eras tour
The proposed new regulation would mean massive exposure for local performers in a live music sector that is currently struggling.
New figures released by the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance reports that musicians on average made a measly $6,000 or less in 2023.
It comes after the Aussie leg of Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour ended with the star raking in a huge sum cash both for both herself – and the NSW economy.
The pop sensation, 34, reportedly earned $25million per Sydney show, meaning she took home $100 million after four concerts at Accor Stadium.
Swift also injected a whopping $145 into the NSW economy, as thousands of local and interstate fans flocked to the city for the must-see event of the year.
The pop sensation, 34, reportedly earned $25million per Sydney show, meaning she took home $100 million after four concerts at Accor Stadium. (pictured in France this week)
Meanwhile, tax lawyer Harry Dell revealed that Swift would have paid 30 per cent tax to the Australian Tax Office on her concert earnings.
This means that the Australian government collected about $10million in tax from Swift across her four Sydney shows.
In Victoria, Swift injected a whopping $174million into the state economy after her three Melbourne shows.
Thousands of fans splashed out a collective $86m in the accommodation, hospitality and tourism sector, with CBD spending up 30% compared to the previous month.
It comes as Swift finished her run of Sydney concerts on Monday evening.
She sent off the crowd with some very warm words, leaving the audience cheering in delight.
‘Looking at this crowd, the biggest crowd we’ve had at our four shows here!’ she told her fans.
More than 600,000 people attended the Australian leg of her Eras Tour.
