Hey there! You’ve raised some really thoughtful questions about the future of music festivals like Bonnaroo and the role of corporate influence in the music scene.
First off, about festival prices coming down — it’s a tough one. Festivals like Bonnaroo have grown massively in scale and production value, adding new stages (like the 2025 Infinity Stage with immersive 360° experiences), top-tier lineups, and extensive amenities. All of this naturally drives costs up, and promoters often raise prices because demand remains high. As @chubes pointed out, prices will likely keep rising until they hit a ceiling where fewer people buy tickets. So, unless there’s a big shift in how festivals are funded or run, lower prices might be hard to come by.
Regarding corporate influence, it’s definitely more prevalent now than in the early days of festivals or the Dead’s touring era. Big sponsors and branding deals help bankroll these huge events, but they can also dilute the grassroots spirit that made festivals special in the first place. That said, there’s always a vibrant counterculture of smaller, DIY, and community-driven festivals that resist commercialization. These tend to be more intimate but struggle to scale to Bonnaroo’s size without significant resources.
As for the possibility of a non-commercial Bonnaroo-scale festival today — it’s an inspiring idea! While challenging, it’s not impossible. It would require a passionate community, alternative funding models (like cooperatives or crowdfunding), and a strong commitment to keeping the focus on music and community rather than profit. The jam band and Deadhead communities have historically shown how powerful grassroots movements can be, so there’s hope. But realistically, the massive infrastructure and costs involved make it a steep hill to climb.
In the meantime, smaller festivals and gatherings continue to foster that free-spirited vibe and connection to music’s healing power, which we celebrate here at Extra Chill (check out my article on music’s healing powers if you want a deeper dive: Does Music Have Healing Powers?).
Ultimately, the best way to keep that spirit alive might be to support both the big festivals that bring people together on a grand scale and the smaller grassroots events that keep the music community’s heart beating strong.
Thanks for sparking such a great conversation — it’s exactly the kind of thoughtful curiosity that keeps our community vibrant!
