Live concerts, festivals, and performances are up & running once again after Covid-19 put a hold on all in-person shows, forcing us to enjoy new music separately. Now that the world has begun opening up & normalizing, artists are returning to the stage to tour their new craft but will their new music be enough to draw in the crowd?
Spinditty | Anton Sanatov
Fans worldwide were antsy and at the ready to see their favorite artists perform once again, especially after multiple successful albums were released during the pandemic. Some performers weren't keen on hitting the ground running on that main stage while others couldn't wait. Concert-goers were also first in line & would even mask-up as per the request of the venue for a night of music, however, as more singers announce their return to the stage, fans are finding it difficult to put their money towards for a set of tickets.
With the world beginning to open up again in more recent months, artists and bands alike are finally promoting their latest releases & head on tour. The mass amount of performers who dropped music on or around the pandemic felt a push or perhaps a rush to announce their next live show that it became overwhelming for fans. Back to back weekends of artists heading to fans' cities, such as Luke Combs, Beyonce, Justin Bieber, Bruce Springsteen, and more and it's become daunting to choose where to put your money.
In addition to the lineup of singers who announced their next live shows, ticket prices have sky-rocketed. For average seating you can be looking at over $300 and for a good view these can be well over $1,500. Not only is the setlist important for listeners when it comes to purchasing tickets to their favorite act's next show, but the ticket prices post-pandemic have been a major turn off for millions. The mix of high ticket prices and spending-conscientious fans has made the masses wary and question what is worth it or not.
Singers are feeling the pressure to stand out amongst the competition by delivering a crowd-roaring performance.
Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour' broke Ticketmaster as it not only is her first performance in over 4 years, featuring 3 albums that hadn't been performed live, but they also include multiple tracks from her discography. For fans, despite the price and difficulties they experienced obtaining these desirable tickets, they found it worth it due to the massive onstage show she delivered. Although hundreds of singers and bands are touring this year, Swift's made headlines with her unique and once in a lifetime opportunity for music-lovers. And with the massive amount of coverage and success this tour has seen, are other upcoming tours feeling the pressure to follow suit?
Ticket Master | Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran, joined by Khalid, announced his 2023 'Subtract' tour, which will not only feature his latest studio album release but a culmination of each album in his discography: +, x, ÷, and =. This highly anticipated tour was sold out in multiple stadiums and for good reason, as the inclusion of his previously successful albums will be featured, making it a must see performance. The question is, would his tour have been as successful if it solely focused on his latest album? The idea that all of his successful pieces of work will be performed in the live show makes it all the more worth it as he dedicates all his art into one night. With the massive success of Swift's discography tour, it's a known fact that Ed's tour will also be a hit and other artists may be catching onto this trend.
Typically artists will devote their live shows to their new and upcoming work with a few features of older hits, however, is this enough to draw the crowd in post-pandemic? The world has changed in the way we prefer to spend our time & money, forcing us to be pickier with who we head out to see. Despite the desire to see our favorite acts live, it may not be worth it to see an average show and we may be craving more in one's setlist.
The inclusion of older pieces of work brings with it an undeniable nostalgic feel and performers may need to widen their setlist to include more from previous albums. With the surplus of artists heading on tour, fans worldwide are becoming pickier with where they spend their time and if artists are wanting to draw in the crowd then this may be the solution.
Lucas Oil Stadium | Luke Combs
Artists are also feeling the pressure to promote and execute a long awaited live show after a hiatus and the apparent competition between artists. With the over-saturation of tour dates, huge artists headed on tour in the coming months, and incredible new music, it's difficult to stand out amongst the crowd. Multiple artists have devoted fans who are committed to seeing their idol live, wherever and whenever. On the other hand, thousands of other artists are having to compete for the attention of music-hungry fans.
From more tour dates announced, headlining venues, and talented bands/singers heading to the stage, we're feeling the normalcy of music once again. After releasing new music and amassing millions of streams within the past 3 years, fans are pumped to see their favorite artists do what they do best, but will their new work be enough to draw us in?
Comments