Country Profile: France

The French live market is in solid shape overall, but the festival market is in an increasingly precarious position.

These are the findings of a report by the National Music Centre published in July. Ticket sales generated €1.6bn in 2024, up 13% from 2023. Attendance numbers grew 2% from 2023 to 37.9m, but the financial jump was due to a 10% increase in the average ticket price to €45.

Festival revenue, however, slipped 0.4% and attendance was down 5%. More chillingly, the study found that 68% of festivals with an occupancy rate above 90% still reported a loss last year, with growing concerns about the long-term…