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Bonnaroo reflects changes in music industry

By Jake Coyle Associated Press

The tens of thousands of music-crazy fans gathered in the Tennessee countryside this weekend for Bonnaroo are part of not just one of the ­summer's biggest music festivals but a nationwide revival.

Just 10 years ago, after the disastrous 1999 Woodstock and the temporary petering out of Lollapalooza, festivals appeared dead. But they've emerged as one of the music industry's few cash cows in a tumultuous environment.

Heat, rain storms and traffic can make most any festival tumultuous. But the rejuvenated summer festival is seen as a reflection of changed music-listening habits.

”I don't think it's a coincidence that as people started having more access to music, it meant that people were looking for a live experience that reflected that ability to consume,“ said Rick Farman, a founder of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, which launched in 2002. ”When you look at people's iPods, it's really diverse what people are listening to.“

Like hitting ”shuffle,“ fans can toggle through genres at a large festival with multiple stages. This year's four-day Bonnaroo, which started Thursday, has more than 100 acts. It's held each year on a 700-acre site in Manchester, Tenn.

The festival, produced by Superfly Productions and AC Entertainment, began primarily as a jam-band event, but its identity has broadened considerably. This year, Pearl Jam, Kanye West, Metallica and Chris Rock will perform.

It's hardly the only gig this summer. The season kicked off with the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., a nine-year-old summer ­behemoth that in many ways originated the festival revival.

There is the 7-year-old Austin City Limits Music Festival in Texas and the now Chicago-based Lollapalooza, featuring Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine and West; Austin City Limits will include Beck, Foo Fighters, Gnarls Barkley and David Byrne.

There's also Chicago's third annual Pitchfork Music Festival; the first All Points West Music & Arts Festival in New Jersey; Seattle's decades-old Bumbershoot; Michigan's new jam band-centric Rothbury Music Festival; the Virgin Festival in Baltimore; San Francisco's new Outside Lands Festival; and many more.

Older festivals are adjusting to the new landscape. In its 49th year, Rhode Island's Newport Folk Festival will be produced by the Festival Network, which has diversified the lineup. Jimmy Buffett, Trey Anastasio, the Black Crowes and Cat Power will play where Bob Dylan famously plugged in his electric guitar in 1965.

The land rush for big summer stages has been lucrative. According to concert industry trade Pollstar, Coachella grossed $16.3 million last year, Lollapalooza $9.8 million and Austin City Limits $11.3 million.

And ticket prices aren't cheap. Four-day passes to Bonnaroo, which include parking and camping, were $209 to $244, not including surcharges. Like many festivals, Bonnaroo also offers VIP treatment; $1,169.50 bought a pair of tickets with special facilities and snacks.