There was once a time when artists only hit the road when they had a project to push. But now as music sales go down, it’s seems the light bulb has gone off that the big money maker for artists these days is in the form of live appearances.
In fact, the top five biggest festivals earned a combined $183 million in ticket sales last year, and that is saying nothing of additional funds brought in by sponsorships, merchandise sales, or food and alcohol sales.
One of the mainstream artists that has really embraced this fact is Drake. He is the epitome of this new found shift – over the next 6 or so months he’s heading his own OVO Festival in Toronto, the London Wireless Festival, Coachella, the Governor’s Ball in New York and yeah … as we speak he’s in wrapping up his Australia and Dubai shows.
It’s like the 70s all over again. Outside shows, porta potties, food trucks, body paint (which by the way is not a substitute for sunscreen)… maybe a little weed. It’s got even a city slicker like myself considering getting in on the fun. I mean I did put it on my bucket list.
I’m personally starting slow – perhaps a day pass at the Made In America Festival in Philly. I’m not quite ready for the desert of Coachella. (Which I suppose is perfect since weekend passes have long been sold out. Even $3,400 teepees are sold out. Now, only limited travel packages of Coachella’s second weekend remain.
But that had me wondering. With big name artists like Drake, Nicki Minaj and Kanye West making the transition from polished arenas to more raw festivals, are fans of the millennium making the shift as well?
So I asked 104 music lovers if they planned to attend a festival in the next 6 months. Forty-five percent said so far that was the plan. 
I suspected the number would be higher but the season is still young. With SXSW now behind us, I would imagine the fun that was had will be shared and will spark interest. The small town feel of raw talent mixed with the likes of J. Cole, O.G. Bun B and A$AP Rocky who once was the raw talent at festivals like this is unlike anything you’ll get at arena.
If I’ve sparked an interest, Fuse has identified the 21 best you should look forward to this year.
Visit Music Festival Junkies for the 411 on all upcoming festivals.
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