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 91裸聊视频渁 worrisome trend91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频淗ear and Now Survey91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频� some small venues do very well 91裸聊视频� but consumer patterns have been shifting for a while.

91裸聊视频淎nd for a long time we thought it was temporary, but it does feel permanent,91裸聊视频� Erin Benjamin says from Ottawa.

91裸聊视频淪ometimes people have to make a choice, and occasionally they make a choice between a big-ticket show 91裸聊视频� a once in a lifetime chance to see their favourite artist 91裸聊视频� versus a series of discovery shows with smaller live music venues.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think that91裸聊视频檚 new, necessarily, but given the economic scenario that we91裸聊视频檙e in, we feel it more acutely.91裸聊视频�

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 Canada91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频� 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 there91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渘o comparison91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淭he tour bus was going to cost us $130,000 so we said, 91裸聊视频極K, we91裸聊视频檙e going to do Sprinters,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� says Black, referring to the Mercedes-Benz crew vans.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e going to still do it comfortably, but I91裸聊视频檓 not getting to wrap the bus, right? We don91裸聊视频檛 have the sponsorship dollars to wrap the bus right now.91裸聊视频�

Black says more savings come by combining her band with that of her opener, Edmonton91裸聊视频檚 Melafrique.

A lot has to go right for the tour to work financially, Black admits: 91裸聊视频淲e need to sell out. We need to sell merch,91裸聊视频� says the 91裸聊视频淪even Day Fool91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频� below the poverty threshold.

Benjamin91裸聊视频檚 group doesn91裸聊视频檛 represent performers but as a former artist herself she says the cost of touring now 91裸聊视频渋s off the charts91裸聊视频� while artists are getting fewer gigs as pandemic pressures forced venues to shutter.

Putting new acts on stage was 91裸聊视频渁 natural part of the business91裸聊视频� before COVID-19, but it91裸聊视频檚 harder for venues today to take any kind of risk.

91裸聊视频淭here remains a very sort of crushing impact for the small, mid-sized companies,91裸聊视频� says Benjamin.

91裸聊视频淭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.91裸聊视频�

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 agent91裸聊视频檚 decision early in her career to have her open for the pop-punk band Yellowcard expanded her audience.

91裸聊视频淢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, let91裸聊视频檚 ally for each other.91裸聊视频�

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 91裸聊视频� even if it91裸聊视频檚 scaled back or shorter than hoped for 91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频渋s an absolute win.91裸聊视频�

Black91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频淪ongs and Stories91裸聊视频� tour is bound for a mix of theatres and concert halls in cities including Ottawa, Winnipeg, Camrose, Alta., and London, Ont.

But Black says she91裸聊视频檚 treating them like big-budget stadium shows, with a top-tier performance to match.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 doing this like it is Rogers Centre, and that91裸聊视频檚 what it feels (like) in my heart.91裸聊视频�