‘We produce wealth’: Italy’s live scene roars back

Italy’s live music market generated €894 million at the box office last year, up 33% on the previous 12 months and almost doubling pre-pandemic levels, according to new figures.

The latest Italian Society of Authors and Publishers’ (SIAE) Report shows that concerts attracted 23.7 million spectators in 2023, a rise of 13.6% on 2022 and a 88% jump on 2019.

More than 36,000 events were held – an increase of 16% on 2022 and 98% on 2019.

“The data emerging from the SIAE 2023 Report highlight the great success of contemporary popular music events and live shows,” says Assomusica president Carlo Parodi. “We are pleased to note the significant increase in concerts throughout the country which has also positively involved Southern Italy and non-metropolitan municipalities.

“Assomusica members are committed daily to organising music events to enhance the territories and combat cultural desertification, and this data confirm this.”

Trade body Assomusica was founded in Florence in 1996. However, a raft of Italy’s leading promoters split from the organisation last year to join breakaway live music association Assoconcerti, which subsequently installed renowned artist manager and promoter Bruno Sconocchia as president.

“The major events of this summer are a clear example of the important impact of the events produced by our members on the cities and regions involved”

Sconocchia, who has worked with top Italian artists such as Fabrizio De André, Gino Paoli, Ornella Vanoni, Zucchero, Pooh and Lucio Dalla, previously led Assomusica from 2005-09.

“We welcome with great pleasure the data emerging from the report which demonstrates, with numbers, the vitality of our sector,” notes Assoconcerti president Bruno Sconocchia. “After the dark years of the pandemic that marked the total closure of our activities, with tragic consequences for our companies and personnel, 2022 already recorded a recovery path and [2023] presents numbers that have even more than doubled compared to 2019.

“We like to underline that, without ever having had access to public resources – until now, reserved for other sectors of the entertainment world – our work produces wealth for the state and for the territories where large concerts take place.
The major events of this summer are a clear example of the important impact of the events produced by our members on the cities and regions involved in terms of employment and tourism.”

Speaking in IQ‘s 2024 Global Arena Guide, Daniele Donati, general manager of Turin’s Inalpi Arena, said: ““Live shows are in a great growth period, and Italy is always a good market for international tours.”

Italy’s long-running Lucca Summer Festival, promoted by Di & Gi, concluded its 2024 edition last week after attracting more than 220,000 people – a record for the event.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

Read More Like This

News|17 Oct 2024

Inside the ‘passionate’ Turkish live scene

Burak Çekiç, booker of Blind Istanbul, speaks to IQ about the success of the 400-cap venue and its spin-off festival

News|24 Jul 2024

Oz launches parliamentary inquiry into music scene

Amid widespread closures, the first round of public hearings into the Australian live market's 'existential crisis' has launched this week

News|18 Sep 2024

A vibrant addition to the Dutch music scene

Hugo Berends and Bart van Haare have united to launch new agency Echo Live, which offers a fresh approach to booking and promotion

News|25 Sep 2024

IFF 2024: Surveying the state of the metal scene

Panellists from Wacken Open Air, Tuska Festival, K2 Agency and Catch 22 offered their appraisals on the health of the enduring sector

News|11 Oct 2024

Belfast invests £400k into developing local scene

The latest investment comes three years after Belfast was deemed a UNESCO City of Music, the only one on the island of Ireland