Music Australia has released a landmark report detailing the commissioning environment for Australian art music creators, providing the sector’s most comprehensive analysis in more than 10 years.

Sound Fair? An analysis of art music commissioning in Australia, authored by composer-researcher Cameron Lam in partnership with Creative Australia and Music Australia, draws on detailed survey responses from 79 music creators and 32 commissioning organisations, covering 195 individual commissions across classical, jazz, improvised, experimental and sound-art practices. 

The findings reveal an industry where creative output is high but financial return is limited, commissioning practices are inconsistent, and formal contracting remains patchy. Music Australia says the research will underpin the development of a best-practice national commissioning guide, to be published in mid-2026, aiming to improve negotiation, transparency and remuneration across the sector.

Director of Music Australia, Millie Millgate, said the report provides the most accurate picture yet of the realities faced by Australian music creators.

“This research gives us a clear and evidence-based picture of how Australian creators are currently being commissioned. It highlights the immense value artists bring to organisations, ensembles and communities, as well as the structural pressures they face. These insights will help guide fairer, more transparent commissioning practices across the...