Private-members clubs are increasingly staging intimate, high-end performances by major music acts to attract wealthy members and distinguish themselves in a crowded market. At New York’s Chez Margaux, leading DJs such as ANOTR, Rüfüs Du Sol and Black Coffee have performed for audiences of about 250, offering an exclusive alternative to festivals and conventional venues.

Access comes at a considerable price: Margaux members pay $4,000 in annual dues and a $3,000 initiation fee, while tickets for ANOTR’s show reached $1,000. The trend reflects the wider expansion of private clubs, with applications in New York reportedly rising 42% in one year, prompting venues to compete through specialised amenities, celebrity chefs, lavish interiors and increasingly curated entertainment.