From Newspapers to Stages: Why We’re Paying for Experience Again

I’ve been thinking about where our entertainment spending has actually gone.

We now get high-quality content for free on platforms like YouTube and other streaming services. But the money we used to spend on TV or newspapers didn’t disappear; it shifted.

That’s why we’re becoming more interested in live entertainment, and why the industry keeps growing.

People are more selective, but when they do spend, they want something that feels worth it.

I felt this at a RAYE concert last week.

She didn’t bring a full orchestra — just a reduced setup.

A few strings, brass, percussion, piano, and guitar. Still, it worked very well.

With the arrangement, lighting, and dynamics, it felt almost theatrical. More like watching a story unfold than just a concert.

And this kind of show is clearly more expensive than a standard pop setup.

So it made me curious about:

how does something like this actually work as a business?

Did she even make money from this?

(as a fan, I really hope she did)

But maybe that’s not the only way to think about it.

If the goal isn’t just short-term profit per show,

but also building long-term audience connection (loyalty),

then this kind of design starts to make more sense.

And if that’s the case, it made me wonder if part of the success comes from how these experiences are designed behind the scenes.

I might be wrong, but it feels like instead of relying on large-scale production, they’re putting more focus on emotional depth and atmosphere.

And instead of trying to reach as many people as possible, which might also explain why this show was held in a more intimate venue rather than a stadium.

They’re creating a space where the audience feels more present and connected to what’s happening.

Even the setup felt very intentional. For this stage, it's not about adding more,

but about choosing what actually matters to the experience.

And it also made me feel genuinely happy for Raye that she seems to have a team that’s thoughtful enough to design something like this behind the scenes.

Because when it works, it doesn’t just feel like a dream experience for the artist and the audience, but also something that can actually support the artist financially, so she can keep creating and continue putting out even better performances.