QTIC Report Puts Live Music Insurance Crisis in National Spotlight

Following a recent full-day cross sector workshop, led by Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC), in which the ALMBC played a significant role, QTIC has released a major new report on insurance affordability and availability, and its findings will sound very familiar to anyone working in live music. The report identifies live music venues, festivals, hospitality businesses and event operators as some of the sectors most impacted by escalating public liability insurance costs, shrinking insurer appetite and reduced market competition.

QTIC highlights examples of live music venues facing premium increases from around $10,000–$20,000 per year to well over $140,000, while many operators are left with only a handful of insurers willing to provide cover. The report also acknowledges concerns long raised by the ALMBC: delayed claims, rising legal costs, psychological injury claims, worker-to-worker claims and the failure to reward strong risk management are all driving pressures across the sector.

Importantly, the report supports many of the reforms advocated by ALMBC and the broader live music industry, including civil liability reform, recognition of venue risk-management practices, specialist insurance solutions and alternative models such as pooled purchasing arrangements and mutual funds. 

As Australia prepares for Brisbane 2032, QTIC warns that insurance has become a structural threat to events, tourism and live music alike. The report is a significant step forward in recognising that this is not a niche music-sector issue, but a national economic challenge.

We encourage all venue operators, festivals, promoters and industry stakeholders to read the full QTIC report and explore its recommendations for rebuilding a sustainable insurance market for live music and events.