In a recent article entitled “Concerted Effort,” Slate magazine writer, Annie Lowrey describes the Dave Matthews Band’s secret to success. Amidst a climate of declining record sales, Lowrey asserts that the band has been able to remain profitable due to it’s high emphasis on touring and ticket sales. In fact, as Lowrey points out, in 2010 alone, “that meant playing 62 shows in 50 cities to 1,270,477 fans- more than any other artist touring in North America.”
The Slate post goes on to compare DMB’s approach as similar to that of the Grateful Dead, a reference that many writers, including myself, have shared, perhaps because the resemblance is so profound. Not only did the Dave Matthews Band inherit the Dead’s sound system, but it seems, they also assumed many of the same performance ethics as did their well known predecessors. In other words, forming a large and loyal fan base, and offering amazing shows that are free of the bells and whistles that amp up other artist’s fees. This strategy allows enthusiasts to enjoy multiple shows every year, which, of course, ends up raising revenue for the band. But it does much more than that.