Q & A
Each month, MusicBizAdvice.com answers your questions about the music industry.
Do small concert promoters (talent buyers) have a chance in today’s live
music business
Q.
I am trying
to get a concert promo business off the ground and was reading the info you
have on your site (which has been very helpful by the way) and was wondering
if since the huge conglomerates are kind of controlling the major acts is
there still hope for the little guy to get it going? Thank you so much--B.A.
A. Thanks
for the compliment. The answer to your question depends on your goals and
certain factors about the location and accessibility of the market city
which couldn’t be determined from your email.
I’ll answer with the best case scenario, which assumes that: 1. your market
city is easily accessible for artist, audience, and transportation of
equipment and crew (hence the reason why not many mainland artists play
Hawaii), 2. your market city is easily routed between two other market
cities, and 3. if your market city is easily routed between two other market
cities, it’s also not within the distance limits of most radius
clauses.
If the major concert promoter in your market city also owns the major TV and
radio stations, major artists will probably be out of the question. Ditto
for baby bands, if that conglomerate also owns smaller venues (1000-3000
seats) in that market city. (Don’t get discouraged; there are rumblings
within the industry that change is afoot. Read on.)
If the conglomerate doesn’t own the smaller venues in your market city, it’s
possible to get a foothold in the market with solid baby bands, solid
unsigned artists, and musical genres or comedy acts the conglomerate won’t
touch (provided the demographics of the market city enjoy them). If the
market city is a college town or near a military base (be sure there’s not
an early, town-wide curfew), you have a better shot.
Regardless, in order for it to work, you must thoroughly know the
demographics of your market city. (Remember: To make money at concert
promotion, it’s not about artists you like; it’s about artists the
audience likes enough to actually pay money to see.) You
must also be very good—and very creative--at music marketing, or hire
someone who is.
Breaking past the conglomerate barriers is not easy, so making a success of
it will depend more on your love of it than the love of the money.
Also…Whether you like politics or not, understanding and being involved in
the political process in your market city is important, because much of your
business depends on obtaining various city and county permits. (This may
leave a bad taste in your mouth, but unfortunately part of the reason
certain conglomerates became conglomerates is that they developed tight
relationships with people who later came into high political positions...and
vice versa.)
Meanwhile, checking out this national level bill would probably be a good
thing, because its outcome affects you and your business.
Good luck!
Randi Reed
Editor-in-Chief / Founder
MusicBizAdvice.com
Q&A Home
Got a question about the music business?
Email
your questions with "Q&A" in the subject line. Include your name or
initials, city and state, and the name of your band, if applicable.
Questions of a general nature will be answered as space allows. (Be sure
your spam filter is set to accept email with hyperlinks from talktombadc@aol.com or muzbizadvc@aol.com
so we can let you know your question is answered and
direct you to additional
information if necessary.)
Answers in the MBADC Q&A are to be taken as general advice only and are not intended
as a substitute for legal advice from a competent entertainment or intellectual property
rights attorney.
TOP |
