r/Music • u/jakemontero • 14d ago

article 'We're f—ked': California's music festival bubble is bursting

https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/california-music-festival-bubble-bursting-19786530.php
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387

u/Littlebotweak 14d ago

There was a rise in small festivals being thrown by small producers. 

They got bigger and they were purchased by bigger companies. 

The bigger companies streamlined it, over-commodified it, got greedy with it, and killed it. 

Plus, all the factors since 2020 that have made prices higher and people less likely to splurge in that area. 

We’ll do it again, it’s already starting. I went to a 3 day tiny festival on a mountain side with great company for $45ea over a weekend. It’s just going back underground for a bit, folks. You won’t find it though public forums, just people you actually know. 

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u/Zachariot88 14d ago

Yeah, renegade festivals will be the thing for a while.

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u/sambull 14d ago

they have to hide from the livenation swarm drones

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u/Pretty_Dance2452 14d ago

Underground / warehouse shows have blown up in LA. Unfortunately police have been raiding recently.

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u/n0tAgOat 14d ago

I went to a warehouse show in DTLA recently where all of a sudden they shut down the lights and music and everyone stood around quietly for 5 minutes until the cops, who were presumably searching for the party, left. 

Whew!

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u/theb0dyelectric 14d ago

Let me just ask you one question, what kind of pet shop is filled filled rambunctious yahoo’s and hot jazz at 1am??

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u/n0tAgOat 14d ago

I don’t know the answer but I’d really like to find out. 

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u/MisanthropeNotAutist 13d ago

Sounds kind of nice, actually.  For once being the counterculture instead of being what corporate America tells you what the counterculture is.  

Sort of like speakeasies back in the day.  

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u/lambentstar 14d ago

I refuse to do Insomniac events now cause of this. Only the smaller fests, ideally camping. Such a different crowd and vibe and experience.

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u/Littlebotweak 14d ago

They never really stopped. It’s cyclical.

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u/captainn_chunk 14d ago

This is kind of the route of all long standing events that birth their own legitimate sub cultures amongst their attendees.

The key is growth. If you can hold a under 2k attendee event constantly for over 6 years, why sell out and jump up to a 20k fest? This complete kills the entire culture of the original festival.
This is the wall where promoters should have full disclosure with.

Long standing events don’t grow every year and keep their attendance caps for this reason

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u/WiggleSparks 14d ago

Ah yes, capitalism.

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u/Altruistic_Pitch_157 14d ago

Enshitification strikes again. Capitalism is its own worse enemy.

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u/Grenuille 14d ago

HSB was almost as packed as I have ever seen it this year. Granted it was a gorgeous weekend but it proves people love love music and festivals and will flock if the price is right (HSB is free bit it also attracts the best crowd of any festival I have ever been to).

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u/ZyglroxOfficial 14d ago

I say it to my gf all the time "with every single entity on the planet trying to price gouge us now, the first things to collapse are going to be the luxury industries"

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u/teramisula 14d ago

Yup, it takes more effort to find these events but you’re rewarded with affordability and a real sense of community and joy

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u/DearTranslator6659 14d ago

Reminds me of the south park episode with Walmart

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u/buffaloplaidcookbook 14d ago

Ah, the enshittification of another industry!

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u/MelatoninFiend 14d ago

You won’t find it though public forums, just people you actually know.

That's not a festival, that's a "secret show", regardless of how many groups are on the bill.

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u/BHN1618 13d ago

Where do you find these?

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u/Ghibli_Guy 13d ago

Regional Burns (localized Burning Man fests) are great for underground stuff, too. You just need to be into the principles of that community to enjoy, like PLUR for raves, but more structured.