Survival of the Fittest: The Future of Music Festivals with Seth Hurwitz

The music festival scene is changing seismically as the market becomes more saturated and competitive. When it comes to music lovers, festivals have exploded in number and scale, flooding the market with a bewildering array of options. This expansion, although initially seen as a sign of the industry’s health and creativity, has led to major challenges. As many festivals strive for the same audience, the uniqueness and quality that once set each event apart is now at risk of being diluted.

As festivals continue to book the same big name acts, festival goers are finding fewer reasons to travel or attend more events. This repetition goes beyond the lines, affecting the themes and atmosphere of the celebrations, which are exactly the same. As a result, the once distinct character of each festival is becoming increasingly blurred, leading fans to become more selective about which events they choose to invest in. The festival scene is becoming a common beach, and fans are looking more for a truly authentic experience. offer something special.

“Deals that are well thought out and have a clear vision will succeed and do well, even those that seem to be there just because the organizers wanted to jump on the bandwagon without giving anything different will not,” said Seth Hurwitz. music promoter in the DC area. “Everything will shake out – it will be survival of the fittest as usual.”

The Overcrowding Problem

The growth of music festivals in recent times is fueled by the growing love of live music among audiences and the attractive business opportunities associated with hosting such events. As traditional album sales decline, live concerts are increasingly the mainstay of artists’ income in the digital age. Both artists and promoters saw a profitable trend to tap into, which led to a thriving festival circuit.

“There are too many celebrations, and thin broadcasting groups. Booking fees have increased. It’s very crowded,” said Hurwitz.

This outbreak is not only in the number of events, but also in their quality and the variety of experiences they offer. Festivals have evolved from simple music concerts to elaborate multi-day events that include art installations, culinary experiences, and interactive activities.

In addition, the economic impact of these festivals can be significant, impacting the local economy by attracting tourists, creating jobs, and developing local businesses. The promise of economic benefits encourages cities and sponsors to support such events, driving the growth of the festival market.

With only a limited number of headline-worthy acts available, many top artists end up performing at many major festivals throughout the season. This results in duplicate listings for different events, which can reduce the unique appeal each festival may have. As a result, the overall festival experience can start to feel uniform, regardless of the location or theme promised by the organizers.

This lack of diversity is a problem for festivals as they struggle to attract crowds and remain financially viable. When festival-goers realize that they can see the same artists at several nearby events, their motivation to choose one festival over another decreases.

Homogeneity and Lack of Uniqueness

As the number of festivals has increased, many end up combining the same popular groups and headlines, making them feel out of place. Fans may notice that the same big names appear or go to an event in Los Angeles or New York, which reduces the excitement of attending different events.

This repetition occurs because there are few top artists who can draw large crowds, and they are often booked for many festivals. The artists themselves want to do as much as possible during the festival season to reach more fans and increase their income, which leads to the same actions that are seen everywhere.

“The problem with many festivals is that promoters want to do one now, because they look easy—they’re not,” said Hurwitz. “So promoters book these festivals without putting much thought or moderation into it, and suddenly you can find the same line-up at many different festivals across the country. When it was the big festivals—Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, ACL, and Coachella—if you wanted to see all your favorite bands in one place you had to go.”

Traditionally, one of the main attractions of a music festival was its unique local appeal—both in the music and the overall experience. This diversity often encouraged fans to travel long distances to enjoy something special they couldn’t find at home. However, as more festivals feature similar lineups, this local appeal fades, and affects how many people choose to attend.

If festivals in different places offer a very similar experience, the reason to visit another city or region diminishes. Fans are less likely to justify the expense and effort of travel if they can get the same experience closer to home. This can lead to a decline in out-of-town visitors, as the appeal of attending a unique event diminishes when the event feels ubiquitous.

Economic and Strategic Challenges

As the demand for high-profile and popular artists continues to rise, the costs associated with booking these high-profile acts have increased. These increased costs are often passed on to festival goers, resulting in higher ticket prices, which can affect the accessibility of festivals to many fans.

For many fans, these increased costs may limit their ability to attend multiple festivals or a single event. This reduced accessibility may affect ticket sales and overall festival attendance, as potential attendees may opt out of purchasing tickets due to prohibitive prices. Festivals that fail to manage these high costs effectively may face challenges in retaining their audience and ensuring long-term sustainability.

In addition, Hurwitz points out that higher ticket prices can change the way audiences engage with festivals. When attendees pay premium prices, their expectations likewise rise. This change could lead to a more commercial relationship between festivals and attendees, where the emphasis is on ‘earning one’s money’ rather than simply enjoying the music and atmosphere. This mindset can reduce the community spirit and spontaneity that has always characterized the festival experience, leading to more calculated and less enjoyable interactions.

The Importance of Quality

The rush for new festivals to enter the market was initially driven by the success of the original festivals, which indicated the potential for more revenue. This led to a gold rush of sorts, with new festivals popping up quickly, hoping to capture some of the success. However, as the number of festivals increased, the uniqueness of each event began to fade, leading to a diluted festival experience across the board.

Blaming individual festival organizers for the competitive climate doesn’t really address the root of the problem. “You really can’t blame a shark for biting someone’s leg, can you?” Hurwitz said. This behavior is simply a response to intense competition and an innate need to stand out.

Seth Hurwitz believes that in today’s hectic festival environment, the festivals that will thrive in the long run are those that have a clear, unique vision, rather than those that jump on the bandwagon for a quick profit. He argues that festivals that really stand out have a unique identity and offer something special beyond just having a huge lineup of popular acts.

As festivals that are not unique and visionary fail to attract and retain audiences, oversaturation in the festival market will naturally decline. Festivals that will always be successful will be those that always provide a unique experience and stand out from the crowd, proving that having a clear and compelling vision is the key to enduring success in the festival industry.