Research report 2023 - Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics
The future of the classical concert: formats, audiences, going digital
Authors
Wald-Fuhrmann, Melanie
Departments
Abteilung Musik
Summary
There has been talk of a crisis in classical concerts since the 1990s. In an extensive research project, we investigated live concerts and the impact different formats have on the audience. We were particularly interested in concert streams, which gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, and identified three types of concert stream consumers: purists, digital concert enthusiasts and less engaged individuals. We could also show that format differences influence the audience experience, with social interaction and moderation playing a major role.