Title: The management of rock festivals as a basis for business dynamics: an example of the growing experience economy

Authors: Jon Sundbo

Addresses: Department of Social Sciences, Roskilde University, P.O. Box 260, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark

Abstract: This paper investigates whether rock festival organisations can be drivers of local and/or regional business development. Rock festivals are one representation of the seemingly growing experience economy. The paper discusses the following research questions on the basis of an explorative case study: can rock festivals be the basis for the development of other industries, education, research and other activities in the local community or region and, if so, how? Is there a particular management and organisational style related to rock festivals and, if so, is it imitated by other firms so that they can become more creative? The rock festivals| role as innovators and business incubators has been investigated. One rock festival functions as a business incubator, the other one as the basis for an attempt to create a regional innovation system. It is concluded that they can be a basis for local or regional business development. Even though there is a general interest for the management and organisational style of the rock festivals, it seems that it is not directly imitated by other firms.

Keywords: innovation; business incubator; innovation system; rock festivals; experience economy; regional development; business development; local development; business dynamics; music festivals.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2004.005850

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2004 Vol.4 No.6, pp.587 - 612

Published online: 16 Dec 2004 *

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