Fans and industry stakeholders are being asked for their input into the first research project of its kind in two decades.

“As we know so much has changed since then, so we’re in a position where anyone in the industry who’s advocating or lobbying on behalf of country music has a hard time because people ask who’s watching, how many people are and how much money is generated,” Country Music Association of Australia president Dobe Newton said.

“Quite frankly all we have is a bunch of anecdotal evidence and we thought it was time to undertake specific research to answer these questions in a meaningful way.”

The research findings will help inform industry decision making and drive investment in the sector, and its hoped country music capital festival-goers can provide insight into where, when and how they’re listening.

The CMAA will work with Tamworth Country Music Festival to look at the attitudes, behaviours and activity of fans for the Country Music Census.

Already more than 1000 people have responded to the survey Mr Newton said.

Read also:

“We just don’t know how much consumer behaviour has changed in the last 20 years and at the end of the day when we release the report the idea of the project is that workers and consumers will be better informed about the country music sector,” he said.

The 45 question survey is available on the CMAA website and takes around 20 minutes to complete, with an $8000 trip to be won.

Sign up to receive The Leader’s breaking news and top stories straight to your inbox