Less Than $6,000 a Year: Australian Musicians Fight for a Living Wage

A study of professional musicians in Australia has revealed that nearly half of them earn yearly incomes well below the national poverty line and many also have to cope with abuse while performing. The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) is a union and professional organisation representing workers in the media, entertainment, and arts industries in Australia. Membership includes journalists, actors, dancers, and musicians. MEAA advocates for the rights and interests of its members, including fair wages, safe working conditions, and professional standards. A recently commissioned survey released by MEAA offshoot, Musicians Australia, revealed that half the country’s musicians earned less than $6,000 (US$3,900) or less a year in 2023, while a 64 percent majority earned less than $15,000 per annum....