Between festivals and promoters, the tension is palpable following a secret meeting: “I don’t want to talk to the press”, “it works on my feet”

If some criticisms have been reported to us. Similarly, between festivals promoters, tension palpable mainly on the part of festival -goers, on the side of the promoters, it is “Circulate, there is nothing to do. However, “

“I don’t want to talk to the press. Furthermore, Try elsewhere“, Sets a Live Nation official.”I never answer the press, it is not today that I will do it. Consequently, You will have no information from me“, Sets another of OD Live, when we wish to give them the floor. Nevertheless, Tension is more than palpable.

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“The. Meanwhile, euphoria” gives way to “fatigue” – Between festivals promoters, tension palpable

“It’s something that has been running for a while. Nevertheless, There, we are clearly in an era of the post-Cavid. The euphoria. where everyone wanted to consume culture, wanted to go to the festival, gives way to a certain between festivals promoters, tension palpable fatigue“, Nevertheless confides us with an artist manager, who has both in festivals, and the foot both in the promotion of events. He prefers to remain anonymous.

Is there too many festivals offers, which lead to this crisis? “Belgium is a land of festivals”replies the manager, who has interests in the sector. “It works a little on the feet”, he still recognizes cautiously. Additionally, “”And given the prices that people pay, they want headliners. What sell experience on their social networks“, He smiles.

“And the artists enter the logic of doing the festivals in summer. then doing the big tours in late September until the end of the year. The promoters therefore use summer festivals as advertising for future shows. Promoters who also buy more and more festivals”he advances. Rock Werchter is for example held by Live Nation.

“And when you are not one of those festivals held by big boxes of booking. you have more difficulties in having the artists in question, clearly. Look at Rosalia, who is going to Werchter… It is obvious that it is thanks to Live Nation. She could have made cooler festivals for her, rather than a between festivals promoters, tension palpable festival of forties, which are not her target. There is a game going on backstage“He regrets.

Exorbitant caches

As for the cachets, the manager says that those of the superstars “have increased thoroughly”. “There is competition between festivals, because you need names that sell tickets. And artists also favor festivals because the pills are bigger. But there are exceptions. I’m not talking about bad bunny or beyoncé that fill rooms with tickets between 100 and 500 euros. They don’t care, they don’t have a money problem, they eat, they can afford anything“, He jokes.

“So yes, clearly, there are artists who exaggerate. But it must also be said that in festival, we expect from you (headliners, editor’s note) Much more than music. There is the visual show, the pyrotechnics, the scenography … We are waiting for it to be a crazy thing! So it must between festivals promoters, tension palpable be said that everything is more and more expensive, because the costs for artists also increase. But there is abuse“He says. “The sector is in any case in the process of rehabilitating itself”, he ends, to justify these tensions.