Dave Cheng’s Post

I really enjoyed reading this year's Bolster Group and Tixel "Front Row Centre" report. There were a few interesting takes which I wanted to share... ENCOURAGING EARLIER TICKET PURCHASES 1. Knowing friends have tickets to events (32%) – Startups like Like Minded Global and Paysquad are working on this. 2. Offering exclusive perks or access (17%) – For example, meet headliners with holograms through Proto Hologram, Holoconnects, and local manufacturer DreamGlass. MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF FESTIVALS 1. Crowd experience ranks highly (63%), just behind atmosphere (75%) – What does a Hackathon look like where we brainstorm ideas for improving fan experiences at festivals? HotHack AUDIENCE INSIGHTS 1. For 18-24-year-olds, the cost of living impacts their spending on experiences at twice the rate of those 51+. Are there new models that could bring together different generations? I went along to the Archibald Closing party at Art Gallery NSW, which was a great example of bringing together different generations. INDUSTRY SHIFT More broadly as CAST - Centre for Arts, Sports and Technology, we’re working towards a change that would add two additional elements to industry reports: 1. Highlighting Innovation – Shining a light on companies already solving some of the industry's key challenges outlined in reports. 2. An Invitation to Innovate – Opening up discussions on opportunities for innovation based on each report's findings/data. What do the contributors to each report see as the next big opportunities for the industry?

Clubbing culture can be a driver of economic development and cultural growth for a city as Berlin, where 50% of repeater tourists come back to the city for the vibrant nightlife. From today in Berlin with the partners of the URBACT network Cities After Dark for deep-diving into the local policies to support music venues and clubs, with a focus on the models of environmental and economic sustainability of venues which are contributing to urban regeneration and city vibrancy. Organized in collaboration with VibeLab, the study visit is a great opportunity for taking inspiration from the experience of night activists and cultural actors which are making night-time activities a decisive element of the Berlin's cultural offer. While the partners of Cities After Dark are undertaking the first steps towards the definition of their integrated action plans, the examples of Berlin are crucial for underlining the importance of active involvement of night stakeholders in co-defining ambitious, long-term thematic policies and test bold actions on the ground 24HourNation MTL 24/24 Clubcommission Berlin e.V. Musicboard Berlin German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development

I’ve been enjoying experimenting with new options for my (almost weekly) commute to Denver — and now some special adventures, solo and with friends — from Fort Collins to Denver as a fun little project. Traveling on I-25 so often was getting stressful with all the driving, traffic, and parking... Now, I almost exclusively take the Bustang (an RTD-CDOT collaboration) to Union Station and ride back to Fort Collins in the evening. It’s been so smooth that it’s hard to imagine going back to all that stress. I even take the Bustang to Union Station to RTD Rails to get to the airport when I can. If there were more routes, I would travel this way for every flight. It’s easier, and frankly, I feel more connected to myself and others when I travel this way. This way of travel isn’t new. Countries around the world — and major cities here at home — have long invested in public transportation as a core public service. This is just a reminder that solutions to our most pressing challenges are already at our fingertips. Whether it’s accessible public transit, affordable healthcare, housing, or food, these services are essential for building fairer, healthier, and more connected communities. We know what works. We just need to invest in it. Now, RTD and JamBase are making concert-going just as seamless. Their new partnership lets you plan transit by simply entering an artist’s name - a direct, convenient way to get to the music you love. This goes beyond convenience though. It’s a model for how public and private sectors can collaborate to promote equity, sustainability, and inclusion — all while enhancing our experience. We can have fun while solving big problems. Investing in collaborations like this doesn’t just make travel easier — it creates fairer, greener, and more connected communities. I’m excited to see how this develops and hopeful it inspires more projects like this in the future.

The #ExperienceEconomy is a vital part of the Irish economy, 300,000 people work hard as part of Ireland’s world-beating Experience Economy which is worth €4 billion to the Irish economy. Ibec’s More than Meets the Eye campaign, outlines the economic importance of the Experience Economy which brings us deep into a supply chain of businesses that employs hundreds of thousands of people across the island of Ireland to deliver world-class experiences. In today's Irish Times, it covers some of the festivals in Ireland 2025 that form part of the Experience Economy https://lnkd.in/esbr82Zu

Berlin’s Famous Club Scene Faces the End of the Party The closing of renowned clubs Watergate and Renate spells trouble for the city’s nightlife. The techno scene owes its existence to an historical anomaly. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, there were heaps of abandoned spaces for clubbing to flourish and property was astonishingly cheap. Situated in an un-renovated, labyrinthine apartment block in the east of the city, Renate blamed its decision to close next year on rising rents and its landlord’s wish to repurpose the club’s enticing garden for new construction. Watergate’s explanation for ending its 22-year run was both more nuanced and concerning. Along with rising rent, wage and energy costs at its prime waterside location, its management pointed to shifts in the relevance of Berlin club culture for international DJs and young people: “The days when Berlin was flooded with club-loving visitors are over, at least for now, and the scene is fighting for survival.” Two-thirds of clubs rated their business prospects over the next couple of years as “bad” or “very bad,” according to a recent survey, and their revenue this year has declined by around 10% on average compared with 2023. Berlin’s nightclubs are faring better than those in the UK, where about three-quarters of venues have shut since 2005.

🎶 New on the Management Studies Insights Blog! 🎶 In an age dominated by digital innovation, what can we learn from DJs who blend old-school techniques with modern technology? Our latest post, Old-Skool Tools and Practices in the Digital Age: How DJs Keep the Past Alive and What It Means for the Future of Work, explores how these artists are preserving the past while shaping the future—and how this approach can inspire shifts in our own work environments. 💼✨ Discover the intersection of creativity, technology, and tradition, and see how the lessons from the DJ booth apply to today's fast-evolving workplaces. Check out the full post here: 🔗 https://bit.ly/4eDjPYa  Hamid Foroughi, Micki Eisenman, Samantha Parsley #FutureOfWork #DigitalAge #Innovation #DJCulture #WorkplaceTrends #ManagementStudiesInsights #JMS #JMS_Journal

The #ExperienceEconomy is a vital part of the Irish economy, 300,000 people work hard as part of Ireland’s world-beating Experience Economy which is worth €4 billion to the Irish economy. Ibec's More than Meets the Eye campaign, outlines the economic importance of the Experience Economy which brings us deep into a supply chain of businesses that employs hundreds of thousands of people across the island of Ireland to deliver world-class experiences. Today's The Irish Times covers some of the festivals in Ireland 2025 that form part of the Experience Economy. https://lnkd.in/ebh9a_Kc #MoreThanMeetsTheEye #YourExperienceEconomy

Complete Guide to Flogging Molly 2024 Tour: Dates, Venues, and How to Get Affordable Tickets

Having spent a good chunk of last week judging 100+ entries from formidable organizations around the world harnessing the power of music to bring people, cities, and even nations together... I'm finally ready to talk about the 3 biggest things I observed from representing Hong Kong as a Juror for the 2024 Music Cities Awards! Thanks Momentual (formerly Music Cities Events) for having me. 🇭🇰 🎶 1️⃣ CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUSIC EDUCATION IS KEY Globally, non-profits, community groups, corporate sponsors and government organizations are recognizing the importance of music education as a tool for youth empowerment and community bonding. Whether that's in lowering the barrier to entry for a child to pick up an instrument, or giving them an orchestra (or even a practice room) to connect at outside of home and school - making music education more accessible is something we should collectively rise to the challenge for. 2️⃣ CULTIVATING A CULTURE OF MUSIC APPRECIATION STARTS GROUND-UP In busy, developed cities, how many times do we walk past a street performer without the headspace to pay attention to their craft and joy? Building a city as a cultural destination and hub starts by creating a culture where people know to stop and appreciate art, culture, and music. And it doesn't have to be Taylor Swift performing at your biggest sports stadium - but cultivating a culture where people will take off their headphones to listen to a busker on public transport. 3️⃣ WE MUST EMPOWER ARTISTS TO CREATE FREELY AND SUSTAINABLY This comes in both hardware as much as it does in software. Grants, fellowships, residencies are great. But it's refreshing to see those who understand the need for networking with labels, connections to venues, mentorships with industry veterans as the necessary soft skills that artists need support with as much as the financial and infrastructural support that gives them the peace of mind to create. So that's it for now! Excited to see what R2 will bring, and again, thanks to Cheryl Kwok, Jett Glozier, and Cristina Peregrina for having me here. Hong Kong is a cultural capital of Asia, and it's an honor to be able to represent this corner of the world! 👏 #MusicCitiesAwards2024 #MusicCitiesAwards