Many members would already be subscribers to Music Trades online, but for those that are not the popular magazine has reported in the latest issue that Australia maintains its Top 10 position in the volumes of musical instrument sales globally, currently sitting 8th. In terms of population Australia does punch above its weight.  While having a third of the population of the UK, Australia sells more than half the value of the UK sales. On the other hand a comparable country in population, like Canada, is double our market. Notable here is the fact  that the Australian Government funding to the arts as a percentage of GDP has lagged well behind other comparable countries at 0.084 per cent of GDP. Canada’s percentage is almost twice as much at 0.156 per cent and New Zealand’s over twice the per capita rate at 0.198 per cent.