# Severe Weather, Radius Clauses and Finding the Next Generation of Festival Headliners: ‘It’s a Year-by-Year Fight to Stay Alive’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/severe-weather-radius-clauses-and-finding-the-next-generation-of-festival-headliners-its-a-year-by-year-fight-to-stay-alive/
- Published: 2026-11-11T08:14:16+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T08:25:36+00:00
- Original publisher: Billboard
- Original article: https://www.billboard.com/business/touring/live-music-summit-2026-festivals-panel-1236379258/
- Topics: Entertainment, Geopolitics, Music, Politics

## Key points

- Festival costs are rising faster than ticket prices.
- Severe weather has prompted cancellations and evacuations.
- Promoters are seeking the next generation of headliners.

## Summary

Festival organisers say severe weather, rising costs and intense competition for major acts have made the business less predictable. At a music industry panel, promoters and booking professionals described a struggle to keep festivals viable while maintaining ticket prices that fans can afford.

Another Planet Entertainment’s Allen Scott said US inflation since 2021 was about 27%, while Outside Lands’ costs had risen 60%; he said sponsorships and premium experiences help offset the pressure on general admission prices. Bonnaroo plans to take 2027 off after severe weather in 2025 and 2026, while Goldenvoice’s Melissa Ormond noted evacuations at California festivals. Organisers also said stadium tours have taken some established stars out of reach, making it more important to identify emerging headliners early.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.