Is 'Blue Dot Fever' a real problem for the concert industry?

This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.

Over the last few weeks, acts like Post Malone, Zayn, Meghan Trainor, the Pussycat Dolls and Kid Cudi have canceled major tour dates.Whatever their reasons behind the scenes (they range from finishing new music to spending time with family), some have cited “Blue Dot Fever” as a possible cause — a tour staring down too many unsold seats to make the numbers work.It’s a tough environment for all but the biggest acts right now — gas is eye-wateringly expensive, fans’ concert habits changed post-COVID, ticket prices are higher than many would like, and social media fame doesn’t guarantee a crowd in person.

The Times spoke to Michael Kaminsky, the founder of music management firm KMGMT, Inc, a partner in the Vans Warped Tour and an instructor in USC’s music industry program, to gauge if “Blue Dot Fever” is real, what expenses acts are facing on the road now, and how a digital audience is no guarantee of a packed house anymore.Music ‘We love the U.S., but now there is a reality in which we have to cut our losses and stop coming,’ one band said.

‘A lot of bands are giving up on the U.S., for sure.’Is this phenomenon of “Blue Dot Fever” real, or is it just a coincidence for specific artists amid a tough economy?I’ve represented artists for 20 years, and a lot’s changed.There used to be a lot of steps up the ladder — you’d play clubs at your band’s start, then theaters, then go onto bigger things.

What I see now is the middle class eroding, and it’s harder for everyone there.Expenses are way up, some have tripled from even a few years ago.For a lot of artists, it’s increasingly difficult to tour and have a healthy business.

A lot of this is fans’ sensitivity to ticket prices, but kids also have a lot of options now, and going to concerts is not as ingrained in their culture.Is this in part a generational shift for kids that grew up in the...