Taikoz

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.

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

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

• Taiko drumming performances
• Japanese drumming instruction
• Performing arts education
• Community music workshops
• School concert programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Performance Bookings: Mainstage productions, corporate events, school performances, and concert appearances generating ticket and booking revenue.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations supporting artists, instruments, and programs. Commissioning Circle ($5,000+) and Inner Beat Circle ($500+) recognition programs.
4. Merchandise Sales: E-commerce shop selling bachi (drumsticks), ear plugs, clothing, and accessories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

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Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Australian Taiko Academy Classes

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ teaching sessions delivered annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major, important and minor.

• Sydney Symphony OrchestraflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 February 2018Collaborative 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 LtdcoreOthersParent 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 NSWmajorOthersGovernment funding partner supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW, contributing to Taikoz's artistic and educational programs.
• Lingalayam Dance CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative productions including 'Chi Udaka' which toured India and major Australian venues. Joint artistic direction between Taikoz (Ian Cleworth) and Lingalayam (Anandavalli).
• Moorambilla VoicesimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation program collaboration involving MAXed Out! and Moorambilla Festival, teaching indigenous children through taiko and music programs.
• Musica Viva AustraliamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTaikoz participates in Musica Viva In Schools touring programs, delivering concerts and educational workshops to schools across Australia.
• Chieko KojimaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerKodo Distinguished Member collaborating on productions including 'The Beauty Of 8', bringing world-renowned Onna-uchi style taiko and dance to Australian audiences.
• Dr Riley LeeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerShakuhachi Grand Master and Taikoz co-founder, recipient of Japanese Foreign Minister's Commendation, performs with ensemble and contributes to educational programs.
• Hiro HayashidaimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer Kodo member and internationally recognized pioneer of katsugi okedo, conducts workshops and developed signature instrument model with REMO.
• Iwasaki Onikenbai HozonkaiimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese organization granting Taikoz permission to practice and perform Onikenbai tradition, including imprimatur for public performances.
• Creative Kids NSWminorOthersRegistered provider accepting NSW Government Creative Kids vouchers to help families cover the cost of children's taiko classes.
• NIDAminorOthersNational Institute of Dramatic Art - Taikoz hired the NIDA Playhouse venue for their CATHARSIS mainstage production.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct 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

• Facebookfacebook.com/TAIKOZfan
• Xx.com/Taikoz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/taikoz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Taikoz