August 30 has long been a milestone date in music history, bringing with it landmark releases and unforgettable moments. Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited arrived on this day, reshaping rock songwriting with “Like a Rolling Stone,” while Van Morrison, Rod Stewart, and Judas Priest also released career-defining albums. The first Isle of Wight Festival in 1968 cemented itself as a cornerstone of British rock culture, and decades later Kanye West’s Late Registration and Lana Del Rey’s Norman Fucking Rockwell! set new creative benchmarks. From classic rock to modern icons, August 30 showcases music’s constant evolution across generations.

In a move set to reshape the landscape of live entertainment marketing, Anthem Group has announced a strategic investment in Bolster Group, one of Australia’s most decorated music and culture marketing agencies. While Bolster will maintain its independence, the alliance signals a new era of audience insight, data-driven growth, and campaign innovation across theatre, music, and major events.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 24 years since Australia lost one of its most iconic musical sons—Graeme “Shirley” Strachan, the charismatic lead singer of Skyhooks. Today, on 29 August 2025, fans, friends, and fellow musicians remember the voice that defined a generation, the performer whose presence lit up stages, and the personality who made Australian rock both fun and unforgettable.

Australia’s biggest international country music festival, CMC Rocks QLD, will return to Willowbank in 2026 with a heavyweight lineup led by Jordan Davis, Old Dominion and Riley Green. The festival runs from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 March 2026, bringing together a mix of Nashville hitmakers, international newcomers and Australian favourites for three days of country music, mateship and memories.

August 29 is a day that echoes with some of music’s most significant milestones. It marks the birth of Michael Jackson, the “King of Pop,” whose influence on music, dance, and culture remains unmatched. On this day, The Beatles performed their final scheduled concert at Candlestick Park, closing the chapter on their touring years, while Roy Orbison released “Oh, Pretty Woman,” destined to become one of rock’s timeless classics. Michael Jackson also released Bad, the follow-up to Thriller, while in more recent times Kanye West unveiled Donda. With moments of farewell, reinvention, and groundbreaking releases, August 29 holds a unique place in the story of modern music.

The Environmental Music Prize, an award that celebrates artists using music to connect people to nature and drive environmental action, is now open for entries for 2025 – but not for long. Submissions close this Sunday, 31 August 2025.

Grammy-nominated star Jelly Roll has announced a brand-new show in Townsville as part of his Down Under 2025 Tour for Face To Face Touring. The addition comes after overwhelming demand, making Townsville the northernmost stop on his first ever visit to Australia and New Zealand. The show will take place on 6 November 2025 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, with a festival-style stage setup on the field and an all-ages audience.

Melbourne is set to swing harder than ever this spring, with the Melbourne International Jazz Festival (MIJF) 2025 unveiling its most ambitious program to date. From 17 to 26 October, the city will host more than 500 artists from 18 countries, presenting over 150 performances across 40 venues.

August 28 stands out in music history as a day of endings, beginnings, and cultural milestones. It was on this date that The Beatles played their last official concert at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park, closing the book on their touring years, while Bob Dylan first crossed paths with the band, sparking a new creative direction. Tammy Wynette recorded her defining anthem “Stand by Your Man,” and Tina Turner reached No.1 in the US with “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” cementing her comeback. The day also brought landmark albums from Big Brother and the Holding Company, The Velvet Underground, and R.E.M., while later generations would see Beyoncé and Florence Welch born on this date. August 28 continues to resonate as a turning point where legacies were launched and legends redefined.

Southeast Asia’s premier music export platform, AXEAN Festival, has unveiled its final lineup for this year’s edition, promising two days of electrifying performances across three stages at Jimbaran Hub, Bali. Set for September 13–14, 2025, the festival will showcase 43 acts from Indonesia and across the region, blending established names with rising independent talent.

The Australian live music industry is built on the people who work behind the curtain. From the audio engineer who balances the mix to the lighting technician who sets the stage ablaze with colour, live shows depend on skilled crew. Now, a new initiative spearheaded by CrewCare is giving the next generation of backstage talent the chance to break into the industry with real training and real jobs.

Melbourne Youth Orchestras will debut The Big Busk in 2025, transforming Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market into a full-day celebration of music and fundraising on Saturday 20 September.

Melbourne’s Live at the Gardens series will hit euphoric heights this November with a triple-bill of Australian electronic heavyweights. Miami Horror, Sneaky Sound System and Bag Raiders will join forces for a one-night-only dancefloor celebration under the stars at the Royal Botanic Gardens on Saturday, 29 November 2025.

Here are the major music events, births, deaths and album releases on this day in music for 27 August:

Salt-N-Pepa are, taking on Universal Music Group in a battle over copyright ownership that could reshape how legacy artists control their music. Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton launched their lawsuit earlier this year, accusing Universal of unlawfully blocking their attempts to exercise termination rights, provisions in U.S. copyright law that allow artists to reclaim their work 35 years after handing it over in early contracts. Salt-N-Pepa say they followed every legal step, yet Universal refused their claim.

Purple Disturbance, the fierce and uncompromising post-punk/alt-rock four-piece from New South Wales, have officially joined forces with New World Artists, the booking agency behind some of Australia’s most trailblazing acts. For a young band already turning heads with their volatile live shows and razor-edged songs, this deal puts them on a major platform heading into 2026.

Here are the major music events, births, deaths and album releases on this day in music for 26 August:

Here are the major music events, births, deaths and album releases on this day in music for 25 August:

Here are the major music events, births, deaths and album releases on this day in music for 24 August:

The 2025 Art Music Awards were celebrated in grand style at Sydney’s City Recital Hall on Thursday, 21 August, bringing together Australia’s leading voices in contemporary classical, jazz, experimental music and sound art. Presented by APRA AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre (AMC), the event recognised outstanding achievement, innovation, and contribution across the national art music community.

Here are the major music events, births, deaths and album releases on this day in music for 21 August:

Here are the major music events, births, deaths and album releases for 20 August:

Major music events from 19 August. On this day in music history:

Wildlands Festival is officially returning for Summer 2026, with organisers confirming two massive editions in Brisbane on New Year’s Day and Perth on January 3rd.

Here are the key events that happened on this day in music for 18 August:

Here are the key events that happened on this day in music for 17 August:

Here is a list of notable albums released 15 August 2025.

Here are the key music highlights for 15 August.

Here are the key events in music history of 14 August.

APRA AMCOS is calling on all songwriter and composer members at pivotal stages of their careers to apply for the 2026 APRA Professional Development Awards (PDAs).