How are music festivals changing? What does this reveal about the music industry, identity and target audiences?

Music festivals are becoming more and more specific as more specific and niche genres arise. Music festivals have become more corporate. Festivals like V festival now advertise specific drinks for festivals and have large companies selling their products. Ticket prices have risen and are now approaching £200. Such festivals are hence becoming more mainstream. The increase in price of festivals is considered to be due to increase in illegal file downloads and file sharing. Because of this reduction in profit, ticket prices have increased to compensate and the 'live experience' is promoted - for example the band Muse have a 360 degree video of some of their live performance to gain intrigue into live performance.

Festivals have also evolved to accomodate more specific genres and they have done this by having more stages over large areas and having many different styles playing at once giving the festival-goers more choice.
People also go to festivals because of the recognition that they get for going and the connotations that the festival may stand for, for example Latitude festival has green, hippy style, environmentally friendly connotations.