Performance market sees strong start in first quarter
China’s performance market got off to a strong start in the first quarter of 2024 as the nationwide revenue from commercial performances (excluding entertainment venue performances) reached 10.8 billion yuan ($1.5 billion), a year-onyear increase of 116.87 percent, according to the China Association of Performing Arts (CAPA) on Wednesday.
From January to March, there were 119,000 commercial performances held nationwide, marking a 72.7 percent increase compared with the same period in 2023. The total audience attendance was 38.87 million, a 77.88 percent increase compared with 2023, said CAPA.
An abundant supply of various shows such as dramas, traditional opera, cross talk, concerts, musicals and children’s plays became popular choices during holidays among people of all ages, spurring consumption.
This year, the star-studded lineup of international artists at music festivals has been drawing a wider audience. The Bubbling & Boiling Music and Arts Festival to be held in North China’s Tianjin Municipality in May features Japanese pop duo YOASOBI, Tatsuya Kitani, and rock band Never Young Beach.
At the Cactus Music Festival slated to take place in May in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, US rock band Fall Out Boy will make their debut at a Chinese mainland music festival. In March, US singer Tinashe announced her China tour plan in five cities. The more than 2,000 tickets for the Shanghai show were snapped up in just six seconds.
As of March 14, the box-office revenue from music performances in 2024 reached 941 million yuan, accounting for 79.3 percent of the total box-office revenue from performances. The total attendance for music performances reached 1.9 million. according to data from box-office tracker Dengta.
A growing number of musical performances have trickled to second- and third-tier cities thanks to the support of local culture and tourism authorities. For instance, the first leg of this year’s Midi Festival will kick off on Friday in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province.