Constructing a Rough Account of British Concert Promotion History – Matt Brennan (2010)

Author(s): Matt Brennan
Organisation / Affiliation: IASPM Journal  1:1, 2010
Date: 2010

This is the second of four related articles in this journal presenting findings from the first year of a research project on live music in the UK. A framework-in-progress is proposed which periodizes the history of British concert promotion since 1955. The first period of 1955-1969 is characterized by the absence of corporations and ancillary industries and the presence of entrepreneur concert promoters; the Musicians’ Union reciprocal exchange; the impact of DIY music-making and youth-pop; the strain on concert promoting conventions by the growth of the pop market. The second period of 1969-1996 is characterized by record labels subsidizing tours to promote record sales; ‘new’ school pop promoters; the professionalization of ancillary industries catering to live music; and the development of the arena circuit. The third and final period of 1996-2009 is characterized by record sales losing ‘wallet share’; ticket prices rising well above inflation; the rise of multi-national corporations entering the live music market; and a changing dynamic between the recording and live industries.

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Also included:-

Analysing Live Music in the UK: Findings One Year into a Three-Year Research Project – Simon Frith (2010)

Live music and music policy: some initial thoughts – Martin Cloonan (2010)

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut: initial research into a ‘local’ live music venue – Emma Webster (2010)