Taikoz
Taikoz is Australia's premier taiko (Japanese drumming) ensemble, founded in 1997, delivering live performances, school and corporate shows, and a tiered music-education program (Australian Taiko Academy) to community members, students, and institutional partners across Australia and selected international venues.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Taikoz does
Taikoz is Australia's premier taiko (Japanese drumming) ensemble, founded in 1997 by Ian Cleworth and Dr Riley Lee and operated as a not-for-profit under the parent entity Percussion Australia Ltd. The company's core product is live performance and structured music education built around traditional wadaiko instrumentation (odaiko, shimedaiko, katsugi okedo, nagado, and associated narimono), supported by a commissioned repertoire of over 200 new works for percussion and wadaiko accumulated since inception. Service lines span mainstage concert productions (e.g., CATHARSIS, Dojo Live), school and corporate performance bookings, and a tiered education pathway marketed under the Australian Taiko Academy sub-brand — ranging from beginner and kids' classes through to an auditioned ATA Ensemble ($1,000/year annual membership) and Individual Development Program for emerging professional taiko artists.
The business model combines recurring subscription revenue from classes and annual memberships (priced $200–$1,470), unit-priced workshops ($45–$335), ticketed and corporate performance bookings, tax-deductible donations organized through tiered recognition programs (Commissioning Circle $5,000+, Inner Beat Circle $500+), and e-commerce merchandise sales (bachi, accessories, apparel). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: classes and live performances at the Ultimo studio generate retention and conversion, while school shows via Musica Viva Australia and corporate bookings extend reach. Marketing relies on the owned website, email newsletter, Facebook, and earned media coverage of major productions. A 1–10 person core staff is supplemented by contracted performers and visiting international artists, including Kodo-affiliated talent.
Customer segments span general community members, children and teens, schools, and corporate clients. Key institutional relationships include Create NSW government funding, Musica Viva Australia channel partnership, and flagship artistic collaborations with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Lingalayam Dance Company. Following the 2016 loss of Australia Council multi-year core funding, the company restructured and now relies on a diversified mix of ticket revenue, donations, class fees, and government support; the 2026 CATHARSIS mainstage show signals a return to capital-intensive production cadence.
Taikoz firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Taikoz
- Legal name
- Percussion Australia Ltd
- Website
- https://taikoz.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Taikoz is Australia's premier taiko (Japanese drumming) ensemble, founded in 1997, delivering live performances, school and corporate shows, and a tiered music-education program (Australian Taiko Academy) to community members, students, and institutional partners across Australia and selected international venues.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Taikoz industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts and Music Education
- NAICS
- Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Kids & Youth Martial Arts Programs (HSADADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Combat Sports Gyms & Dojos (MMA, Boxing, Wrestling, Martial Arts) (MPAKAJAG), Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE)
Keywords
Where Taikoz is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Taikoz business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Class and Workshop Fees: Weekly classes at various skill levels (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Kids & Teens) and workshops offered through Australian Taiko Academy, with both term-based and annual membership options.
- Performance Bookings: Mainstage productions, corporate events, school performances, and concert appearances generating ticket and booking revenue.
- Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations supporting artists, instruments, and programs. Commissioning Circle ($5,000+) and Inner Beat Circle ($500+) recognition programs.
- Merchandise Sales: E-commerce shop selling bachi (drumsticks), ear plugs, clothing, and accessories.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Elements Advanced Annual Membership - Full year 2026 |
| Subscription | Annual | ATA Ensemble Annual Membership - Full year 2026 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Taikoz Winter Intensive - 3-Day Workshop |
| Subscription | Annual | Onikenbai Club Annual Membership - Full year 2026 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Beginners A Saturday - Term 3 2026 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hour of Power Workshop |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Family Play Taiko Workshop |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Taikoz product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Taikoz delivers live taiko (Japanese wadaiko) drumming performances, including mainstage productions, Dojo Live concerts, corporate shows, and school concerts. It also runs the Australian Taiko Academy, which provides weekly drumming classes and workshops across beginner, intermediate, advanced, kids and teens levels, with term-based and annual membership options. Supporting revenue includes merchandise sales and a donation/fundraising program.
Product overview
No structured product information available. The source data is heavily corrupted and does not contain extractable product, service, or portfolio information.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Australian Taiko Academy Classes
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ teaching sessions delivered annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Taikoz
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Taikoz technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Taikoz partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major, important and minor.
- Sydney Symphony OrchestraflagshipCollaborative performances including world premiere of 'Breath Of Thunder' by Lachlan Skipworth at Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. Combined taiko, shakuhachi, and symphony orchestra in unique performances.
- Percussion Australia LtdcoreParent organization operating both Synergy Percussion and Taikoz ensembles. Provides administrative, financial, and governance infrastructure. Registered tax-deductible fund on the Register of Cultural Organisations.
- Create NSWmajorGovernment funding partner supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW, contributing to Taikoz's artistic and educational programs.
- Lingalayam Dance CompanymajorCollaborative productions including 'Chi Udaka' which toured India and major Australian venues. Joint artistic direction between Taikoz (Ian Cleworth) and Lingalayam (Anandavalli).
- Moorambilla VoicesimportantEducation program collaboration involving MAXed Out! and Moorambilla Festival, teaching indigenous children through taiko and music programs.
- Musica Viva AustraliamajorTaikoz participates in Musica Viva In Schools touring programs, delivering concerts and educational workshops to schools across Australia.
- Chieko KojimaflagshipKodo Distinguished Member collaborating on productions including 'The Beauty Of 8', bringing world-renowned Onna-uchi style taiko and dance to Australian audiences.
- Dr Riley LeeflagshipShakuhachi Grand Master and Taikoz co-founder, recipient of Japanese Foreign Minister's Commendation, performs with ensemble and contributes to educational programs.
- Hiro HayashidaimportantFormer Kodo member and internationally recognized pioneer of katsugi okedo, conducts workshops and developed signature instrument model with REMO.
- Iwasaki Onikenbai HozonkaiimportantJapanese organization granting Taikoz permission to practice and perform Onikenbai tradition, including imprimatur for public performances.
- Creative Kids NSWminorRegistered provider accepting NSW Government Creative Kids vouchers to help families cover the cost of children's taiko classes.
- NIDAminorNational Institute of Dramatic Art - Taikoz hired the NIDA Playhouse venue for their CATHARSIS mainstage production.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Taikoz competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kodo: World-renowned Japanese taiko ensemble based on Sado Island. Kodo is the most globally recognized professional taiko group and Taikoz's clearest direct peer—Taikoz collaborates with Kodo members (e.g., Hiro Hayashida, Chieko Kojima) and operates the same performance-and-instruction model.
- San Jose Taiko: Pioneering North American taiko ensemble founded in 1973. Comparable to Taikoz in offering both professional performances and community classes, with a similar teaching-artist model that blends cultural instruction and concert work.
Broad incumbents
- Musica Viva Australia: Australia's largest presenter of live chamber music and a key touring/education partner of Taikoz via Musica Viva In Schools. Comparable as a national performing-arts organization delivering concerts plus school workshops, though much broader in repertoire.
- Sydney Symphony Orchestra: Taikoz's flagship orchestral collaborator (e.g., 2018 Sydney Opera House premiere of 'Breath Of Thunder'). Comparable as a Sydney-based classical/performing-arts institution with shared audiences, venue partnerships, and cross-genre collaboration model, though much larger and broader in repertoire.
Regional players
- Bangarra Dance Theatre: Australia's leading Indigenous contemporary dance company. Comparable as an Australian performing-arts ensemble that combines professional mainstage productions with cultural-education outreach to schools and communities.
- Bell Shakespeare: Major Australian touring performing-arts company delivering mainstage productions plus school-based education programs. Comparable operating model (productions + schools program + donations) and similar non-profit structure.
Others
- Synergy Percussion: Sibling contemporary percussion ensemble also operating under parent Percussion Australia Ltd. Direct comparability through shared governance, infrastructure, and overlapping artistic network, though focused on contemporary rather than Japanese percussion repertoire.
Emerging players
- On Ensemble: Los Angeles-based taiko group known for innovative fusion of traditional wadaiko with contemporary styles. Comparable as a performing-and-teaching taiko organization, though more niche in repertoire and smaller in community-class scale than Taikoz.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Taikoz social profiles
Digital presenceTaikoz financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Taikoz leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Taikoz funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Taikoz M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Taikoz
What does Taikoz do?
Taikoz delivers live taiko (Japanese wadaiko) drumming performances, including mainstage productions, Dojo Live concerts, corporate shows, and school concerts. It also runs the Australian Taiko Academy, which provides weekly drumming classes and workshops across beginner, intermediate, advanced, kids and teens levels, with term-based and annual membership options. Supporting revenue includes merchandise sales and a donation/fundraising program.
Is Taikoz a public or private company?
Taikoz is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Taikoz founded?
Taikoz was founded in 1997. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Taikoz based?
Taikoz is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Taikoz make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Class and Workshop Fees are the primary driver. The others are performance Bookings, donations and Fundraising and merchandise Sales.
Who are Taikoz's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kodo and San Jose Taiko. Broad incumbents are Musica Viva Australia and Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Regional players are Bangarra Dance Theatre and Bell Shakespeare. Synergy Percussion is listed as an others. On Ensemble is listed as an emerging player.
Does Taikoz have an API?
No public API is recorded for Taikoz.
What industry is Taikoz in?
Taikoz's product category is Performing Arts and Music Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSADADAG, Kids & Youth Martial Arts Programs, with a secondary code of MPAKAJAG, Combat Sports Gyms & Dojos (MMA, Boxing, Wrestling, Martial Arts). Its NAICS code is 711130 and its SIC code is 7997.