For many years it was assumed that the live music business could not compete effectively for consumer expenditure in the music market place. In the last decade, this picture has been shifting. As the value of CDs  has fallen dramatically, the value of live concerts has risen equally dramatically. My research project is concerned to examine these changes and place them in a long historical timeframe.  We are concerned equally with the emergence of a new musical power structure and with the reasons why consumers are now prepared to value live performance so highly? What is it that is being valued? The act? The venue? The event? The audience experience itself?    
In this talk Simon Frith will introduce some of his initial findings. Simon Frith's presentation will be followed by a Q+A, lead by Paul Rutten.