Concert films have become a chart-topping movie genre in the past few years. Arguably this genre gained most traction during 2023 with the release of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour and Renaissance: A Film By Beyonce.
According to Luminate’s 2023 Year End Music Report — the emergence of concert films was one of the most impactful trends for the music industry. Unsurprisingly, the momentum behind the genre has continued.
Most recently, Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger has attracted attention for its documentation of the British band’s reunion following their 16 year hiatus. Much of the praise has been surrounding the cinematography and its ability to not only capture the performance itself, but the emotional intensity of the audience. Devoted fans are seen sobbing, cheering and experiencing the overwhelming emotions that accompany the return of a once broken up band.
Vogue Senior Editor and longtime Oasis fan Corey Seymour reflected on the documentary and how “the great triumph of this film — whether you were lucky enough to score tickets to last summer’s tour or not — is that, for two hours and three minutes, you’re not a bystander.”
That sentiment captures one of the greatest appeals of the modern concert film: accessibility. For fans who cannot afford to spend hundreds of dollars to attend a two hour live event, a concert film is a wonderful economic alternative. Yet it does pose a question into the revenue and logistics behind the music industry: Why has experiencing an artist live become such a scarce commodity?
Many consumers question the role artists have over concert tickets. Well to answer the question, all of it. Before touring, artists meet with management to establish a production budget and target revenue which ultimately influence the venue pricing. If a musician wants to perform at Madison Square Garden with moving spotlights, live camera close-ups, high-end sound systems, extended stage ramps, stage designs, and dancers — these expenses require upfront investment.
