Ausmusic T-Shirt Day

Last updated
Ausmusic T-Shirt Day
Observed bySupporters of Australian music
TypeCommercial
Celebrations T-shirt wearing; donations to Support Act
DateOne day in November (Ausmusic Month)
First time2013
Started by Triple J

Ausmusic T-Shirt Day is an annual day of recognition and support for Australian musicians, held every November (Ausmusic Month) since 2013. It was founded by national youth radio station Triple J. Participants are encouraged to wear a t-shirt representing their favourite local artist, and make a donation to music industry charity Support Act. The initiative raises hundreds of thousands of dollars every year through the sales of limited edition t-shirts, often sold at community markets across the country.

Contents

History

From 2007, British DJ Steve Lamacq annually championed Wear Your Old Band T-Shirt to Work Day, an initiative he created as host of BBC Radio 6 Music. Inspired by this, Ollie Wards, content director of Australian youth radio station Triple J, began a social media trend in 2013 with the hashtag #AusBandTShirtDay. Two years later, it started becoming known as #AusMusicTShirtDay to be inclusive of solo musicians. In 2015, the initiative began receiving support from the Australian Recording Industry Association. [1]

Since 2017, the initiative has raised funds for Support Act, an Australian charity that assists those in the music industry facing personal hardships. [2] A range of limited edition t-shirt designs are made available specifically for Ausmusic T-Shirt Day every year, with all net profits directed towards Support Act. [3]

In 2022, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wore a King Stingray edition of the T-shirt on Ausmusic T-shirt Day. [4] In 2023, the artists participating in the t-shirt range included John Farnham, Cold Chisel, Kylie Minogue, Gang of Youths, and G Flip. [3] For the 2023 event, over $700,000 was raised for Support Act, derived from over 680 fundraisers. [5]

The 2024 campaign saw Support Act launch Mobmusic T-Shirt Day, a fundraiser specifically promoting Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander musicians. Triple J presenter Nooky was the face of the appeal. [6]

Donation totals

List of annual amounts raised from Ausmusic T-Shirt Day
YearAmount raisedRef.
2018$111,572 [7]
2019$260,664 [8]
2020 [a] 1st: $26,000
2nd: $327,000		 [11]
2021$540,000 [11]
2022$637,000 [12]
2023$904,656 [13]
2024$981,000 [14]
2025TBA [15]

Notes

  1. ↑ In 2020, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ausmusic T-Shirt Day was held on two dates: 17 April, [9] and 20 November. [10]

References

  1. ↑ Newstead, Al (13 November 2019). "Ausmusic T-Shirt Day: How it all started (and why we still love it)". Triple J . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Ausmusic T-Shirt Day to partner with Support Act". Triple J. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  3. 1 2 Robinson, Ellie (3 October 2023). "Ausmusic T-Shirt Day Returning In November 2023". The Music. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "King Stingray". Great Southern Nights. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  5. ↑ Lynch, Jessie (12 December 2023). "Ausmusic T-Shirt Day Raises Record-Breaking $700,000+ For Struggling Music Workers". The Music . Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  6. ↑ Guenzier, Joseph (31 October 2024). "Mobmusic T-Shirt Day launched in support of Indigenous musicians". National Indigenous Times . Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  7. ↑ English, Laura (14 August 2019). "AusMusic T-Shirt Day Returns For 2019 So Start Sorting Through Your Collection". Music Feeds. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  8. ↑ "Ausmusic T-Shirt Day 2019 Raised An 'Unbelievable' Amount Of Money". The Music. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  9. ↑ Kapetanovic, Emily-Layne (17 April 2020). "A brief history of Ausmusic T-Shirt Day and why you should get involved". Beat Magazine . Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  10. ↑ Young, David James (12 October 2020). "Support Act announce second Aus Music T-Shirt Day for 2020". NME . Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  11. 1 2 Triscari, Caleb (26 November 2021). "Ausmusic T-Shirt Day breaks fundraising record in 2021". NME. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  12. ↑ "It's not just rock 'n' roll: How Ausmusic T-Shirt Day smashed records for Support Act". Marketing Mag. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "Musicsa's South Aus Music T-Shirt Day Market Returns". The Note . 25 November 2024.
  14. ↑ "Ausmusic T-Shirt Day - Support Act". supportact.org.au. 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
  15. ↑ "AusMusic T-Shirt Day 2025". TikTok Entertainment Centre. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
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