The effects of concert formats on classical concertgoers

Objective: The classical concert is forced to compete with other art and cultural events. It seems that it has lost much of its appeal in attracting (new) audience members in recent years, visible in declining audience numbers and aging audiences. As a reaction, managers of orchestras, classical music festivals or concert halls are experimenting with new concert formats, such as concert moderation, late-night concerts, special venues, participatory concerts, staged concerts, curated programming, visuals and others. The article focuses on these concert variations and how they affect the concert visitors. Methods: With this in mind, we experimentally examined, in 11 concerts in Berlin, different concert formats regarding their effect on concertgoers (n = 787). Different concert formats, such as different concert venues, different ensembles, variations in moderation, visuals, sound amplification, etc. were tested. We studied the concert as a multidimensional experience, dependent on the musicians’ and listeners’ disposition, the live atmosphere, the concert hall, and other aspects of staging the music. Results: The findings revealed that concert formats generally had subtle effects on audience experiences, where the venue and its atmosphere played a more prominent role. We may safely assume that the musicians and their interpretation had a slightly more substantial influence on the overall experience than the format. The study challenges assumptions about the impact of moderation, lighting, visuals, and participatory elements, hence offering insights for concert designers and managers. While the results are perhaps surprising, they contribute to a nuanced understanding of the multidimensional nature of concert experiences.