Australia Emerges Third-Largest Global Country Music Market

Australia has rapidly emerged as the world's third-largest country music market, following the US and Canada, driven largely by a surge in Gen Z listeners and the genre's crossover appeal with pop, rock, and hip hop. According to a Step Into Country report by Connect and Live Nation, 78% of Australian music fans now view country music as mainstream, with social media platforms like TikTok and Spotify playing a significant role in its urban popularity. Live Nation Australia has experienced a 746% increase in country music ticket sales since 2019, with new festivals such as Strummingbird and Sunburnt Country spotlighting artists like Jelly Roll and Jason Aldean. Meanwhile, in the US, Ohio country duo Dalton and Delaney draw heavily from their agricultural roots and FFA involvement, channeling rural life into their music and performances that resonate with local farming communities. Looking ahead, the fall country music scene features anticipated releases from artists like HARDY, Carter Faith, and Lanie Gardner, who blend traditional country themes with diverse influences ranging from indie rock to classic country icons, ensuring continued vitality and evolution of the genre.