Friday, January 29, 2016
Live Nation, AEG Live Are Eating the Music Fest Industry
Flavorwire: When the news broke that LCD Soundsystem was “reuniting” for the 2016 version of Coachella, we wondered if our rapidly shortening nostalgia cycles might signal a trend towards festivals becoming less reliant upon legacy acts, in favor of more contemporary artists.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Before I begin, let me state the this if my favorite article I have ever head on the blog. Even though it is extremely straightforward and simple, it talked about so many of the things I am so passionate about and what I want to do with my future. Music festivals are such a special thing and I think that the final paragraph in this article summarizes it for a lot of music fans, including myself. However, as someone who is extremely interested in the career of managing and producing a new music festival, it makes me concerned. I don’t necessarily think that it is a bad thing that these corporate companies are taking over festivals. After all, many of these festivals would not be able to happen without the funds and support of those companies. And these corporate-owned festivals, although not independent, do often produce quality programing and have up and coming artists on their line-up. On the other side of things, having to answer to these companies can restrict the creative ideas that lie at the heart of many of these festivals.
Festivals, including musical festivals, are such a special thing. They can be religious for some people and an escape from reality for others. So many of the people I’ve talked to, say that their weekend at Gov Ball or Bonnaroo was the best weekend of their life. That obviously means that something special is happening at these festivals and is something that I so want to be a part of. To make the memory of a lifetime for someone with music that I love is something that I would do anything to be a part of.
1. I relate to the mom in Alabama that desperately wants to see Grimes. 2. This article was incredibly well thought out and got my festival-minded brain thinking. It'll be very interesting to see what the trajectory of festivals will be in the next 5 years. I have a feeling, if prices continue to balloon, they'll quickly be phased out of the popular teen culture that made them so successful in the first place. Teenagers just can't pay $325 a ticket, annually. Realistically, if prices continue to rise, their attendance levels are going to decrease. Not to mention the uninhabitable conditions festivals with an attendance of 100k+ attendance are starting to experience. I went to Made in America this summer, and was constantly astounded by how poor the festival maintenance was. The grass was all dead by day 2, the dust made the air unbreathable, and food lines reached to lengths that made me want to leave to get something to eat rather than stay, even though the festival itself was no re-entry.
I feel like festivals are going to have to do a massive overhaul of their business model in the coming years to continue to appeal to their current target audience.
It always makes me sad to see independent companies swallowed up by a corporate whole. I know that sometimes it’s an inevitability, but the ramifications of a corporate take-over could be catastrophic. I think that when it comes to music festivals, it’s independence is part of the appeal. The music industry started out independently, and later grew to incorporate large record labels. People have always criticized the industry for this, condemning artists who are considered ‘sell outs’. While that may be a bit harsh, I can understand why. It’s frustrating when people try to monopolize and control something as personal as art. And the same principal applies with music festivals. Some consideration to the financial needs of running a festival need to be given, sure. But part of the attraction of a festival is the independent spirit. Watching a favorite artist live is a very intimate experience, and to feel as though a company is taking advantage of people’s passions leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
Post a Comment