2003 was a good year for the live music sector. In direct contrast to the recorded music industry, who continued to cope with declining record sales, the major tours and festivals enjoyed record sells outs and ticket revenues in 2003. Despite a number of high profile cancellations in Eastern Asia and Canada as the SARS epidemic took hold in the first half of the year, the live sector expects to smash records in terms of annual revenues.
While some argue the live sector was helped this year by a coincidentally high number of legendary artists being on tour, Gary Bongiovanni of US live industry magazine Pollstar points out the live sector is not so affected by the changes the internet has caused in the recorded music sector: "The record business has serious problems, fundamental business-model problems. The concert business isn't like that. People still want to see live acts, and a concert's not something you can necessarily steal."
With Australia's Big Day Out Festival already reporting record speed sell outs for its 2004 events and anticipation high for the big summer festivals in the US and Europe the live sector looks likely to continue its growth in 2004.
Other stuff? Well, Sanctuary Music became an increasingly important player, snapping up all sorts of management and label businesses, and ending the year with singles filling two places in the Christmas Top three. Beggars imprint XL found themselves with numerous buzz bands on their hands (Dizzee, White Stripes, Lemon Jelly, Peaches, Electric Six). The Stones pissed off HMV in Canada when they did an exclusivity deal with rival retailer Best Buy. Michael Jackson continued to feud with Sony Music, Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne quit the label, but George Michael forgot his previous grievances and resigned to the major. The Eavis family and Mean Fiddler ran such an efficient Glastonbury Festival, the 2004 event got its licence first time of asking. And everyone made lots of cash out of selling ringtones (just who is it that pays three quid for a casio reworking of a Justin Timberlake track?)