An association representing the live music industry says budget-conscious concertgoers are getting pickier about which shows they go to and spending less money when they get there, posing B次元官网网址渁 worrisome trendB次元官网网址� for an industry facing economic uncertainties and razor-thin margins.

The Canadian Live Music Association released an economic report Thursday that touted $10.92 billion in contributions to gross domestic product in 2023, but also noted fan budgets are being squeezed by escalating ticket prices for top-tier acts, leaving them with less money to also see mid-range or smaller events.

On top of that, the B次元官网网址淗ear and Now SurveyB次元官网网址� found younger audiences drink less alcohol, putting a dent in what has traditionally been a steady revenue stream for venues, and that people are more frequently buying tickets last-minute, making it hard for venues and artists to plan.

The president and CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association says audience interest often depends on the specific show B次元官网网址� some small venues do very well B次元官网网址� but consumer patterns have been shifting for a while.

B次元官网网址淎nd for a long time we thought it was temporary, but it does feel permanent,B次元官网网址� Erin Benjamin says from Ottawa.

B次元官网网址淪ometimes people have to make a choice, and occasionally they make a choice between a big-ticket show B次元官网网址� a once in a lifetime chance to see their favourite artist B次元官网网址� versus a series of discovery shows with smaller live music venues.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think thatB次元官网网址檚 new, necessarily, but given the economic scenario that weB次元官网网址檙e in, we feel it more acutely.B次元官网网址�

The report says this uncertainty comes after the majority of live music companies surveyed said revenues grew in recent years after the pandemic, showing resilience in the sector.

It estimates CanadaB次元官网网址檚 live music companies contributed $2 billion to GDP, and nearly $9 billion from tourism stimulated by live music.

The report is billed as the first to assess the economic impact of the live music scene, which during the study period included 3,750 venues, music festivals, live music production companies, equipment rental companies, support organizations, promoters, managers and agents.

It says an estimated 18,945 live music shows were booked in Canada in 2023 B次元官网网址� roughly 50 shows per day.

The report lands as R&B veteran Jully Black heads out on her first national headlining tour in over a decade, and she says thereB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渘o comparisonB次元官网网址� to her 2008 tour, which was supported by a sponsorship from Best Buy.

This time, the independent artist-entrepreneur says her band will tour by van instead of bus.

B次元官网网址淭he tour bus was going to cost us $130,000 so we said, B次元官网网址極K, weB次元官网网址檙e going to do Sprinters,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� says Black, referring to the Mercedes-Benz crew vans.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to still do it comfortably, but IB次元官网网址檓 not getting to wrap the bus, right? We donB次元官网网址檛 have the sponsorship dollars to wrap the bus right now.B次元官网网址�

Black says more savings come by combining her band with that of her opener, EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 Melafrique.

A lot has to go right for the tour to work financially, Black admits: B次元官网网址淲e need to sell out. We need to sell merch,B次元官网网址� says the B次元官网网址淪even Day FoolB次元官网网址� singer, who kicks off her tour Feb. 7 in Oakville, Ont.

Among the fixes sought by the CLMA are: more partnerships with the private sector; measures to address systemic barriers faced by people who are LGBTQ+, Indigenous, Black and people of colour; and deeper integration with tourism initiatives. It also wants to see better compensation and working conditions for those who work in the industry, noting the average salary for a full-time employee is a little more than $31,000 B次元官网网址� below the poverty threshold.

BenjaminB次元官网网址檚 group doesnB次元官网网址檛 represent performers but as a former artist herself she says the cost of touring now B次元官网网址渋s off the chartsB次元官网网址� while artists are getting fewer gigs as pandemic pressures forced venues to shutter.

Putting new acts on stage was B次元官网网址渁 natural part of the businessB次元官网网址� before COVID-19, but itB次元官网网址檚 harder for venues today to take any kind of risk.

B次元官网网址淭here remains a very sort of crushing impact for the small, mid-sized companies,B次元官网网址� says Benjamin.

B次元官网网址淭he convergence of inflation and the changes in consumer habits have meant more of an unpredictability and one of the results, the direct result of that, is less risk-taking on stages.B次元官网网址�

Black has invited emerging artists on her tour and says she would like to see more collaboration among performing artists, even if they are in different genres. She says an agentB次元官网网址檚 decision early in her career to have her open for the pop-punk band Yellowcard expanded her audience.

B次元官网网址淢ore privileged artists need to open their minds and open up their opportunities. They say you want to be an ally? Ally. OK, then systemically, letB次元官网网址檚 ally for each other.B次元官网网址�

Financial data for the live music report was primarily collected through a survey April 30, 2024 to July 12, 2024. Findings are also based on roundtables with industry representatives and interviews Nordicity held with groups that represent Indigenous and Black music communities, and environmental advocacy groups.

Despite the financial hurdles, Black says just being able to mount a tour B次元官网网址� even if itB次元官网网址檚 scaled back or shorter than hoped for B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渋s an absolute win.B次元官网网址�

BlackB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淪ongs and StoriesB次元官网网址� tour is bound for a mix of theatres and concert halls in cities including Ottawa, Winnipeg, Camrose, Alta., and London, Ont.

But Black says sheB次元官网网址檚 treating them like big-budget stadium shows, with a top-tier performance to match.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 doing this like it is Rogers Centre, and thatB次元官网网址檚 what it feels (like) in my heart.B次元官网网址�