LIVE MUSIC ON THE RISE
Jan 1, 2006 12:00 PM, C. Deane
“Rock is back,” says a 30-something yuppie professional over his $12 martini in an overstyled L.A. bar. Further questing led to his admission that, for the first time since he was a teenager, he goes to live shows in small and big venues and that he has noticed a sharp increase in the attraction of live music generally among his peers. “I'd rather pay 25 bucks for a ticket and have a great night out on the town with a mixed crowd and excellent entertainment than drop that in a bar or on a two-hour movie I can watch in the comfort of my own home,” he says. Like many trends, there is a synergy here between the consumer and the provider. Consumers are discovering and consuming more music than ever, and the content owners and providers are doing everything they can to make a profit on the upswing. Live shows are a good source of revenue, and with CD sales sharply down, artists and labels are enthusiastically supporting and attempting to grow their other revenue sources. The number of people going out to see live music will continue to rise in 2006 as going to shows continues to increase in popularity as a social outing for all ages. Corporate sponsorship will remain in the forefront, with venues and artists offsetting costs and increasing profits by letting that credit-card company banner the venue or that hip liquor outfit bring in B-models to give out free shots.
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