Live Music Plus: Are We Entering the Era of the Mega Concert?
Many of the music industry’s biggest stars are still playing to their largest crowds. From custom-built stadiums to larger venues and more performances, the live music industry appears to be entering into the mega concert era. What may be driving this surge in live music?
Larger Spectacles
Over-the-top productions are becoming the norm for many of music’s biggest acts.
For example, in August 2024, Adele constructed a custom stadium in Munich, Germany. “Adele World” consisted of a Bavarian beer garden, a Ferris wheel, performers roaming the ground on stilts, a 45,000-square-foot LED wall, and a 73,000-capacity custom-built temporary venue. After ten shows watched by over 730,000 fans, the venue was packed up and stuffed in a warehouse.[1]
The $2 billion Sphere in Las Vegas has hosted residencies by U2, Phish, Dead & Company, and the Eagles. Another Sphere is in the works for Abu Dhabi. In May 2024, Madonna gave a free show to an estimated 1.6 million fans in Rio de Janeiro.
And who can forget Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour?
Acts Moving Up
Music acts are climbing the performance ladder. Theater acts are moving to areas and arena acts are moving up to stadiums.
Even stadium acts are upping their game by playing more shows. Acts that may have played stadiums for two or three days may now play for up to ten days.
Resulting in More Shows
The number of shows at the world’s top 10 stadiums by gross revenue rose more than 70% between 2019 and 2023. Live Nation reports a 70% increase in large-format shows in 2022-2024 compared with 2015-2019.
What’s Driving Growth?
Several factors may be driving the mega concert trend.
Music acts are gaining popularity quicker, bypassing smaller venues and moving into arenas and stadiums sooner. Streaming may help to increase an artist’s profile quickly.
With so many options, artists want to deliver something extra special to their fans.
Larger shows may cost more to mount, but they allow artists to make more money, particularly in extra sales like merchandise.
Larger and longer play dates give artists more control and consistency over their performance. They no longer have to deal with fitting their complex stage production into the unique structure of every arena and stadium.
Social media may be heightening fans’ fear of missing out and not being able to show that they were there.
How May Individuals Gain Exposure to Companies in the Live Music Industry?
The MUSQ Global Music Industry ETF (MUSQ)
The MUSQ Global Music Industry ETF (MUSQ) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond to the total return performance of the MUSQ Global Music Industry Index (MUSQIX). The MUSQIX Index is designed to provide exposure to global, publicly traded companies and royalty funds with a core business interest in the global music industry.
MUSQ may provide individuals with an attractive vehicle to gain exposure to the companies in the live music industry.
[1] All data sourced from: Shah, Neil, 50,000 Screaming Fans Is Nothing In The Mega Concert Era, Wall Street Journal, 10/22/24
MUSQ Global Music Industry Index ETF is offered by prospectus. Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. This and other important information can be found in the MUSQ ETF prospectus, which should be read carefully before investing and can be obtained by visiting https://musqetf.com or by calling 1-855- MUSQ-ETF(687-7383).
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