‘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.
Italian live music events up 70% since 2019
The number of concerts held in Italy last year represented a 70% increase on 2019 figures, according to national trade body Assomusica.
Referencing Italian Society of Authors and Publishers (SIAE) data, the organisation said that more than 31,000 concerts took place in Italy in 2022 compared to 18,000 in the last pre-pandemic year.
Speaking during a panel at Milan Music Week, Assomusica president Carlo Parodi credited the rise of smaller performances, which take place mainly outside the large metropolitan centres, with boosting the total.
“This panel is the natural continuation of a social campaign by Assomusica on the impact and positive consequences that concerts and live shows have on the territories, especially in villages and small towns,” said Parodi, as per the Ticketing Business.
“These numbers demonstrate how live shows and contemporary Italian music satisfy the primary need for culture and sociality in the territories.”
Bergamo Mayor Giorgio Gori pointed out that 50 concerts had been held in the city over the past three summers as part of the NXT Station project, while the city has also funded the opening of a second venue, the Lazzaretto.
“We are happy to have become part of the large family of Italian entertainment”
Mantua Mayor Mattia Palazzi also discussed the rise of the Mantova Summer Festival in attracting tourists. The event has confirmed Greta Van Fleet and Diana Krall for 2024, with the city previously having hosted the likes of Sting, OneRepublic, Sigur Ros, Kasabian and Placebo.
Assomusica was founded in Florence in 1996. However, a raft of Italy’s leading promoters split from the organisation in June to join breakaway live music association Assoconcerti, which subsequently installed renowned artist manager and promoter Bruno Sconocchia as its first president. 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.
Billboard Italia reported the group’s formation was sparked by the appointment of 30-year industry veteran Parodi as Assomusica president, which was supported by local promoters but caused friction with the larger organisations, who considered Sconocchia a better fit for the role due to Parodi’s independent background.
Parodi is founder of the Collegno’s Flowers Festival and the Hiroshima Mon Amour live music club. He became the sixth president of Assomusica, succeeding the late Vincenzo Spera, who passed away in a road accident earlier this year.
The presidential office of AGIS (Italian General Association of Entertainment) approved AssoConcerti’s membership earlier this month, reports iMusicFun.
“We are happy to have become part of the large family of Italian entertainment,” said Sconocchia. “The strength of AGIS lies precisely in its ability to bring together within it a plurality of realities that represent the entire Italian entertainment sector.”
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.
Breakaway Italian music trade body formed
A number of Italy’s leading promoters have split from Assomusica to join a breakaway live music association.
The trade body, Assoconcerti, has installed renowned artist manager and promoter Bruno Sconocchia as its first president. Companies including Friends & Partners, Live Nation, Vivo Concerti, Trident, Vertigo, BCM Concerti and D’Alessandro e Galli have signed up to the new organisation.
Other members include AC, Ambaradan, Color Sound, Comcerto, Esse Concerti, FVG Live, GF Entertainment, Gruppo Carramusa, Habita, International Music and Arts – Master’s Voice, Musica Grandi Produzioni, Producteam, Show Net, Sol Eventi, Studio’s Programmazione Spettacoli, The Base and Zed Entertainment’s World.
Assoconcerti says it will “represent and assist the operators of live music in terms of legislation, negotiations, trade union, facilitating relations with institutions and both public and private organisations”.
Assoconcerti’s formation was reportedly sparked by the appointment of Carlo Parodi as Assomusica president
According to Billboard Italia, the breakaway group’s formation was sparked by the appointment of Carlo Parodi as Assomusica president, which was supported by local promoters but caused friction with the larger organisations, who considered Sconocchia a better fit for the role due to Parodi’s independent background.
A music promoter from Turin with over 30 years’ experience, Parodi is founder of the Collegno’s Flowers Festival and the Hiroshima Mon Amour live music club. He became the sixth president of Assomusica last month, succeeding the late Vincenzo Spera, who passed away in a road accident earlier this year.
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.
Assomusica was founded in Florence in 1996. Its current list of members can be viewed here.
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.