New Study Reveals Australians Love Discovering New Music
Comprehensive new research confirms what we already knew: Australian music fans love the quality, quantity, and access they have to new and local music on streaming services.
Spotify partnered with consumer research experts YouGov to survey over 4,000 Australians who stream music online* on how they discover new artists and whether Australian music is easy to find.
The Australian Music Discovery Report is the second installment of research from Spotify’s local music initiative, Turn Up Aus. Through high-impact marketing campaigns, curated programming, industry education sessions, a dedicated music hub, and fan events, Turn Up Aus is designed to celebrate and amplify homegrown talent. This report follows the Global Impact Report released in July.
Discovery made simple
In a world of endless choice, Australians enjoy using streaming services to empower their music discovery journeys.
Eighty-five percent of Australian listeners are satisfied with their ability to discover new music on streaming platforms. This isn’t just about finding hits; it’s about having the tools to dig deeper, uncover hidden gems, and follow personal curiosity.
The same proportion (85%) are satisfied with the variety of artists and songs available, with nearly half (47%) saying they’re very satisfied. Among daily streamers, this satisfaction climbs even higher (52%), meaning the more listeners engage, the more music they find to love.
Australian artists on the world stage
The findings reveal that Australian music is not just visible on streaming platforms but that it’s striking a real chord. This cements the foundation that music discovery on streaming platforms supports long-term careers of Australian artists, including introducing them to global audiences.
Four in five (81%) streaming users say it’s easy to find Australian artists on platform, a figure that rises among Gen Z (83%) and millennials (84%).
Alongside searching for specific artists, listeners are also discovering local music organically, as it’s woven into their everyday streaming experience.
A majority of listeners (61%) are satisfied with the amount of Australian music available and accessible to them.
The empowered fan
While organic recommendations play a powerful role, many Australians are taking music discovery into their own hands.
According to YouGov Profiles, a significant number of Australian adults (42%)** say they actively search for independent or lesser-known music (and film) artists.
For many, the joy is in the search and thrill of finding the next big thing.
The bottom line
On Spotify, the search function is just one discovery tool: Our in-app music guide, DJ (“Hey DJ, play more Australian music”), human-curated editorial lists, and personalized playlists are empowering listeners to control their discovery experience.
Australian listeners feel empowered and engaged, and they appreciate the variety and visibility of local music on streaming platforms.
Spotify is proud to support Australian music discovery and to continue innovating with new listener-led tools that help fans connect with new artists every day.
“The data tells a positive story: that 81% of listeners feel Australian music is visible, accessible, and easy to explore on streaming platforms,” said Alicia Sbrugnera, Spotify’s Head of Music Development for Australia and New Zealand. “We know that when we support the discoverability of new music, we’re supporting the entire Australian music ecosystem—for artists, venues, labels, and fans—and through this new research, fans have told us that it’s working.”
ARIA Awards winners and RADAR alumni Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers said: “For Australian artists like us, discovery is the bridge between making music at home and connecting with audiences around the world. It’s great to see that local listeners feel empowered to find new music—it’s that curiosity that helps our songs travel.”
The Push CEO Kate Duncan said: “We have heard loud and clear that young audiences are actively looking to discover Australian music, and they’re using platforms like Spotify to do it. This matters because visibility on streaming is often the first step for young audiences forming a lifelong connection to Australian music—the moment where curiosity becomes connection, and connection becomes sustained engagement with homegrown artists.”
MGM Distribution Director Michael Chase said: “The findings in this report are really encouraging for Australian music. Discovery is happening everywhere—at home and across global markets—and it’s great to see the data reflect that. Spotify’s indie team, both globally and here in Australia, are genuine music lovers who consistently show up for artists. You can see that commitment in initiatives like Turn Up Aus, which put local talent at the center. Australian artists have always punched above their weight, and with 42% of local listeners actively seeking out independent or emerging acts, the opportunity for the indie sector is clearer than ever.”
Find your next favorite Australian artist on Spotify’s Turn Up Aus playlist today.
*All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 4,017 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between July 22 and 31, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all Australian adults who use online music streaming services (aged 18+).
**YouGov Profiles Australia 2025-08-03
42% – Top 2 Box (Agree): Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? – I actively seek out independent or lesser-known films and music artists: n=30,561
