Various music festivals emerged in the post-pandemic; most of them offered similar concepts which targeted the young market longing for offline entertainment.

Promoters are once again competing to hold music festivals, Solo concerts, and even invite international artists. However, amidst efforts to revive the music scene, young people’s interest is starting to shift, especially my generation, infamously called “Gen Z”.

Music festivals have long been one of the most anticipated events for young people, especially Gen Z. Music festivals offer a moment for our generation to hang out with friends, capture memories, and enjoy music that we often play on digital music platforms in real life.

FOMO Fest: Gen Z’s Festival Fever

Watching music festivals initially served as entertainment and a way for Gen Z to unwind from their daily activities, such as school or college, or the fatigue of working. By attending music festivals, our generation would capture moments that needed to be documented or uploaded on social media.

The essence of attending concerts for Gen Z has changed along with technological advancements and social changes. Watching music festivals is no longer a novelty for Gen Z. Nowadays, there are many music festivals in Indonesia, ranging from international to local scales, such as Pestapora, The Sound Project, DWP, Waterbomb Festival, and others.

With more choices, this does not necessarily make Gen Z more enthusiastic. Instead, they have become more selective and critical in choosing which festivals to attend. Gen Z seeks festivals not only to offer entertainment but also meaningful experiences that align with their values.

With the abundance of music festivals recently, the purpose of attending festivals has also shifted. From initially serving as entertainment and a way to unwind, attending concerts has now become a way to fulfill a sense of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) or “prestige.”

Instead of enjoying the artists’ performances and the concert atmosphere, attention is diverted to documenting moments on social media. Concerts, which should be a place to relax and enjoy music with friends, have turned into showcases and self-validation events.

This has made music festivals evolve into social status symbols, where attendance and participation indicate existence and popularity among peers. 

This phenomenon reflects how cultural and technological changes influenced the way Gen Z views and utilizes music festivals. Despite the surge of music festivals, there are not many festivals that are truly meaningful to us as Gen Z. With the experience of watching festivals that are less interesting, such as unreasonable crowds, and uninteresting line-ups.

Off-the-Beat: Gen Z’s Changing Taste

Initially, many were enthusiastic about attending music festivals to enjoy performances by their favorite artists, experience the lively atmosphere, and socialize with peers. However, over time, the reasons that drew them to music festivals began to shift, and eventually, many lost interest in attending.

One of the main reasons Gen Z has become reluctant to attend music festivals is that they feel these festivals have lost their essence. What was once considered a unique and enjoyable experience now feels monotonous and repetitive. Music festivals no longer provide the exclusive and special impression they used to.

The line-up of artists performing at music festivals is also a reason why Gen Z is reluctant to attend. If the artist line-up does not match their preferences or is considered uninteresting, our generation prefers not to attend.

Most importantly, the crowd factor plays a significant role. Gen Z tends to avoid overly crowded and congested places. They feel uncomfortable being in large crowds, which can cause stress and anxiety.

Additionally, the density at music festivals often makes it difficult to enjoy performances comfortably. They prefer more personal and intimate experiences where they can truly enjoy the music without disturbance.

Because of the crowds and congestion, the venues of music festivals have become unsafe and uncomfortable. This condition turns an initially pleasant experience into a stressful and exhausting one, leading them to no longer want to attend music festivals.

We Prefer Concert Over Festival

Compared to music festivals, Gen Z prefers attending concerts. One of the main reasons is concerts offer a more intimate and personal experience.

By attending concerts, they can fully enjoy their favorite artist’s performance without being distracted by other artists’ performers, as is common in music festivals, and without having to switch stages or feel rushed to see other artists.

The focused atmosphere and smaller audience make the concert-watching experience deeper and more memorable, allowing them to feel more connected to the artists they like.

Gen Z, known for their deep connection with their favorite artists, feels that concerts provide the opportunity to see and experience live performances from the musicians they idolize in a more intimate setting. Concerts, in particular, offer spectacular production, stunning performances, and closer interactions with fans.

Concerts also often feature specially curated setlists and visual elements that enhance the experience, creating moments that are hard to find at larger and more general music festivals.

Additionally, Gen Z tends to prefer concerts over music festivals because concerts often offer seating options, providing more comfort. The crowds at concerts are usually more organized, allowing for a more structured and enjoyable viewing experience.

Although concert tickets can be expensive, the total cost of attending a concert is usually more efficient compared to music festivals. Gen Z can better control their expenses and get better value for their money by enjoying the artists and songs they want to watch.

Gen Z Prefers One-Day Music Festivals

Gen Z also prefers attending concerts or music festivals for just one day compared to buying a 3-day pass due to several main reasons related to convenience, cost, and time flexibility.

Gen Z finds that attending a music festival for three consecutive days can be very exhausting. They can choose a day with their favorite artists’ lineup, making their experience optimal without feeling overly tired.

Attending a festival for just one day allows Gen Z to truly enjoy and focus on the artist’s Gen Z  likes without feeling rushed to cover everything over three days.