The Valuation of Music in Australia: A Chart Analysis 1988–2011

Abstract

In this chapter the ARIA charts are analysed to understand what musicians and music genres are appreciated most in Australia from 1988 to 2011. With the help of several indices a cycle of popularity of Australian music is highlighted. Therefore we can distinguish four different periods in the Australian popular music business. In the era of Australian superstars a few artist such as AC/DC, INXS, John Farnham and Kylie Minogue charted high from 1988 to 1995 despite a dominance of international repertory. A generation shift to younger acts such as Powderfinger, Silverchair, Grinspoon, Savage Garden, and The John Butler Trio shaped the period from 1995 to 2002 with less chart successes of domestic artists. However, in 2002 the Australian pop music market entered the so called “Golden Age of Australian music” with great chart successes of Australian artists, which was triggered by casting shows on the one hand and the emergence of new innovative indie labels on the other. Since 2008 however, we can observe less charting Australian artists, but of a new generation of acts which indicates a second transition period in the Australian popular music market.