Live Music's Q3 Victory
A slow and steady return to normal now seems guaranteed.
If last week’s Universal IPO indicated something of a highwater mark in the recorded music business, then all of this week’s big stories seem to portray the live music industry getting its legs back. We swear this see-sawing is not by design, but it does feel like the weeks alternate in interesting content.
After months of anticipating the return of live shows followed by deflating expectations caused by the Delta variant, Pollstar is reporting a return to something resembling regularity for Q3.
Shows are back at every level of the business – stadiums, arenas, sheds, theaters, clubs and festivals are all safely up and running; fans in primary, secondary and even tertiary markets are going to more shows and have more choices than in 18 months of shutdown; and artists, promoters, venues, agents, crews and fans have formed a general consensus on safety protocols and best practices for live events that are working.
Perhaps no news really is the best news when normalcy is the goal. And with the ground no longer shifting constantly under the industry’s feet, we’re seeing some moves that aren’t directly COVID-related. From mega-agency mergers and big-dollar investments in mobile ticketing to COVID-detecting dogs and other out there ideas, here’s what’s been happening in the world of live music.
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TAKEAWAYS
Salient statements from this week’s music news.
1. CAA To Acquire ICM Partners In Blockbuster Agency Deal
Though mainly being reported as a Hollywood story (the Deadline article mentions music after podcasting), this merger will move the concert booking business closer to the Big Three model of the major labels, with WME, CAA and UTA take up a massive amount of live music market share.
Takeaway: The company also announced that it is establishing a Concerts Leadership Committee designed to keep the department on the cutting edge of every client opportunity and groom the next generation of department leaders.
2. Dice Raises $122m at a $400m Valuation for Its Intelligent Event Discovery and Booking Platform
After hitting the live stream market hard in 2020 (the Nick Cave concert was a pandemic highlight), the mobile ticketing platform is returning to its roots.
Takeaway: The new funds will be going toward expanding Dice’s geographic footprint with a special focus on the U.S. since this is where Dice’s business seems to be growing the fastest at the moment, as cities and consumers gradually come out of pandemic hibernation to spend time together again.
3. You've Heard of Drug Detection Dogs at Music Festivals—Get Ready for COVID-Sniffing Canines
And you thought your stash was safe in your sock.
Takeaway: [500 attendees were] required to provide two arm sweat samples, which the detection dogs then sniffed to detect the presence of the coronavirus.
4. Stufish Designing Hexagonal Arena for ABBA Reunion Tour
The “temporary” 3000-seat arena can be set up for long engagements, then moved to the next location.
Takeaway: It has been designed to host a virtual tour that will see ABBA band members performing as "digital avatars" designed by Industrial Light & Magic.
5. This Nightclub Traps Dancers’ Body Heat to Warm and Cool the Building
The heated air is pulled from the club and stored 650 feet underground.
Takeaway: Yes, the energy from people will be plenty to warm the building during the coldest months when Glasgow averages around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
