Major Music Festivals Research Articles

Wastewater surveillance to assess cocaine and methylenedioxymethamphetamine use trends during a major music festival in Brazil.

Wastewater-based epidemiology was applied in northeastern Brazil during a dance festival, revealing that cocaine consumption doubled during the event days. The daily drug loads were 0.95 ±0.03 to 11.4±0.4g/day for BE, 1.8±0.4 to 7.6±0.3g/day for COC, 0.04 ±0.02 to 0.19 ±0.02 g/day for COE, and 0.08 ±0.02 to 0.80 ±0.02 g/day for MDMA.

Antecedents and outcomes of the consumer-based brand equity of events and its importance for destinations: the case of Portuguese music festivals

PurposeEven though the importance of understanding festivals from a tourism attraction development perspective has been addressed, few studies have examined the factor of brand equity in festival tourism. For that reason, this research examines the antecedents and consequents of the consumer-based brand equity (CBBE) of an event.Design/methodology/approachAfter data collection, which was carried out through a questionnaire, the structural equation model was used to analyze the statistical data. The results were based on a sample of 329 participants who attended two major music festivals in Portugal: NOS Primavera Sound and NOS Alive Portugal.FindingsFor both samples, this research shows that many aspects related to the event (image, experience and satisfaction) impact CBBE and CBBE influences destination image, the intention to revisit the destination and the intention to recommend the destination.Originality/valueThis study presents itself as innovative since it brings the CBBE of an event to the center of an investigation, showing how it helps transfer the effects of image, satisfaction and the experience of a festival to a destination image, the intention to revisit and the intention to recommend a place.

Contemporary music genre rhythm generation with machine learning

In this article, we present research on customizing a variational autoencoder (VAE) neural network to learn models and play with musical rhythms encoded within a latent space. The system uses a data structure that is capable of encoding rhythms in simple and compound meter and can learn models from little training data. To facilitate the exploration of models, we implemented a visualizer that relies on the dynamic nature of the pulsing rhythmic patterns. To test our system in real-life musical practice, we collected small-scale datasets of contemporary music genre rhythms and trained models with them. We found that the non-linearities of the learned latent spaces coupled with tactile interfaces to interact with the models were very expressive and lead to unexpected places in composition and live performance musical settings. A music album was recorded and it was premiered at a major music festival using the VAE latent space on stage.

Correlates of higher‐risk drug‐related behaviours at music festivals in New South Wales, Australia

There are few contemporary data on illicit drug use at music festivals. We describe drug use patterns and prevalence of specific higher-risk drug-related behaviours, and their associations with festivalgoer characteristics. We approached attendees at six major music festivals in New South Wales, Australia, from November 2019 to March 2020. Participants self-completed an anonymous survey on prior and intended drug use and associated higher-risk behaviours; double dropping; higher-volume ethanol alongside drug use; higher quantity 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA); mixing stimulants; and preloading. Logistic regression and UpSet analyses were performed to identify festivalgoer characteristics and the intersection of high-risk behaviours, respectively. Of 1229 participants, 372 (30.3%) used or planned to use drugs at the festival. In multivariable analyses, men and those purchasing drugs both inside and outside the venue had greater odds of engaging in higher-risk behaviours. Of those using MDMA, 47.9% reported double dropping. People using drugs for the first time had 3.3 (95% confidence interval 1.2-8.7) greater odds of higher-volume ethanol alongside drug use. People reporting that police/police dog presence influenced their decision to take drugs had 2.2 (95% confidence interval 1.4-3.6) greater odds of preloading. In UpSet analysis, preloading was the most common intersection (17% of those using drugs). Engagement in the five higher-risk drug behaviours was common, particularly amongst males and those using drugs for the first time, while police/police dog presence appeared to influence higher-risk behaviours amongst festival attendees. This information can be used to inform harm reduction advice, public health and law enforcement strategies.

The Return of Major Music Festivals in Romania, Postponed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Controversies over Possible Discriminations Regarding Not Allowing the Participation of Non-Vaccinated Spectators

The Return of Major Music Festivals in Romania, Postponed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Controversies over Possible Discriminations Regarding Not Allowing the Participation of Non-Vaccinated Spectators

Illicit Drugs as a Potential Risk to the Aquatic Environment of a Large Freshwater Lake after a Major Music Festival.

The present study strengthens the view that residues of drugs of abuse may become widespread surface water contaminants following a local music festival. Overall, 10 illicit drugs were detected from the aquatic environment after the festival; cocaine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine were present in the highest concentrations. The presence of illicit drugs and their metabolites over 3 monitored festival yr suggested that consumption of these drugs was temporally linked with events. Weather conditions seriously influenced detection of contaminants deriving from events at the lakeshore. Most of the illicit drugs retained their pharmacological activities, with a potentially adverse impact on wildlife. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1491-1498. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Use of Medical Supplies at the Roskilde Festival 2016: A Prospective Observational Study.

Music festivals are popular events often including camping at the festival site. A mix of music, alcohol, drugs, and limited hygiene increases health risks. This study aimed to assess the use of medical supplies at a major music festival, thereby aiding planning at similar events in the future. The Medical Health Care Organization (MHCO) at Roskilde Festival 2016 (Denmark) collected prospective data on disposable medical supply use and injuries and illnesses presenting to the MHCO. A total of 12,830 patient presentations were registered by the MHCO and a total of 104 different types of disposable medical supplies were used by the MHCO from June 25, 2016 through July 3, 2016. Out of 12,830 cases, 594 individuals (4.6%) had a potential or manifest medical emergency, 6,670 (52.0%) presented with minor injuries, and 5,566 (43.4%) presented with minor illnesses. The overall patient presentation rate (PPR) was 99.0/1,000 attendees and the transport-to-hospital rate (TTHR) was 2.1/1,000 attendees. For medical emergencies, the most frequently used supplies were aluminum rescue blankets (n = 627), non-rebreather masks (n = 121), and suction catheters for an automatic suction unit (ASU) for airway management (n = 83). Most used diagnostic equipment were blood glucose test strips (n = 1,155), electrocardiogram electrodes (n = 960), and urinary test strips (n = 400). The most frequently used personal protection equipment were non-sterile gloves (n = 1,185 pairs) and sterile gloves (n = 189). This study demonstrates a substantial use of disposable medical supplies at a major music festival. The results provide aid for planning similar mass-gathering (MG) events.

Contributors’ Notes

Contributors’ Notes

Atlas Weekend - the largest music festival in Ukraine

Purpose of the article is to analyze the history and practice of the «Atlas Weekend» festival, its cultural component and organizational differences from other major music festivals in Ukraine. Methodology. The methodology of the study: is the combination of biographical and textual analysis with the method of included observation. Scientific novelty. The author presents the social and communication characteristics and discloses the information principles of the organization of the festival Atlas Weekend. His history and peculiarities of the artistic program are investigated, modern musical terminology is used in the research. Conclusions. The article analyzes the development of the largest musical festival in Ukraine. The achievements of the «Atlas Weekend» festival, the actual problems of the creative industry in the field of musical culture, are analyzed on the basis of Internet space and articles in specialized editions. The whole European cultural industry is built on the demand of consumers, artificially created and imposed by Western tendencies. Ukrainian festivals, although trying to adapt to the European festival space and still remain too conservative for the European listener, and Western media have created the idea that Ukraine is not the best option for leisure. Such informational defamation has appeared on the side of the Western media, both during Euro 2012 and during the Eurovision 2017. The author presents the social and communication characteristics and discloses the information principles of the organization of the festival «Atlas Weekend». It explores its history and features with the use of modern musical terminology. The urgency of the study is due to the lack of sufficient information in Ukrainian scientific sources on the development of modern festival culture in Ukraine. We must admit that the masters of sciences are concentrated mainly at festivals of classical music, and do not explore poly-genres festivals at all.

Stanley “Stan” Ruttenberg (1926–2017)

This talented geophysicist, with his love of music, played key roles in the International Geophysical Year (1957–1958) and many other research programs, as well as in organizing a major music festival.

Recreational drug use at a major music festival: trend analysis of anonymised pooled urine

Objective: The spread of new psychoactive substances (NPS) has expanded rapidly in the last decade. The complexity of the pharmacological effects of NPS challenges the traditional treatment guidelines, and information of the emergence of new arrivals is valuable. Our knowledge on the actual range of recreational drugs used and NPS available in Denmark is limited as identification is possible only when consumers become patients in the healthcare system or through drug seizures. We aimed to detect classical recreational drugs and NPS in the urine of music festival attendees and evaluate if the use of NPS could have been predicted by comparing study data with drug seizure data from the previous year published by European and Danish health authorities.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 44 urine samples were collected from three urinals at Roskilde Festival 2016—the largest Danish music festival. Two urinals were placed at music stages with late-night concerts, and one urinal was placed at a camp site. Samples were prepared using enzymatic hydrolysis followed by cationic and anionic solid phase extraction, and analysed using ultra performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-HR-TOF-MS). Data were processed using an in-house library of 467 target substances, including legal and illegal drugs and metabolites. Urine drug-screening immunoassays were also evaluated and results were compared to UPLC-HR-TOF-MS results.Results: In total, 77 drugs, including metabolites, were qualitatively identified in the 44 urine samples. The recreational drugs identified were amphetamine (n = 30), cocaine (n = 44), MDA (n = 40), MDMA (n = 44), THC-COOH (n = 19) and ketamine (n = 17). No NPS were identified. Sample testing using the urine drug-screening immunoassays showed presence of cocaine (n = 27), methamphetamine/MDMA (n = 4), THC (n = 7), “Spice” (n = 7) and methylphenidate (n = 1). These discrepancies might be caused by differences in cut-off values between the analytical methods, limited specificity or cross-reactivity of the urine drug-screening immunoassays compared to UPLC-HR-TOFMS results.Conclusion: Widespread uses of classical recreational drugs were identified in pooled urine samples. The prevalence of NPS was not as comprehensive as expected based on the European and Danish health authorities reports on illegal drugs. Urine drug-screening immunoassays results are advised to be confirmed by chromatographic bioanalysis.

‘We achieve the impossible’: Discourses of freedom and escape at music festivals and free parties

In this article, we explore the notion of freedom as a form of governance within contemporary consumer culture in a sphere where ‘freedom’ appears as a key component: outdoor music-based leisure events, notably music festivals and free parties. ‘Freedom’ is commodified as central to the marketing of many music festivals, which now form a highly commercialised sector of the UK leisure industry, subject to various regulatory restrictions. Free parties, in contrast, are unlicensed, mostly illegal and far less commercialised leisure spaces. We present data from two related studies to investigate how participants at three major British outdoor music festivals and a small rural free party scene draw on discourses of freedom, escape and regulation. We argue that major music festivals operate as temporary bounded spheres of ‘licensed transgression’, in which an apparent lack of regulation operates as a form of governance. In contrast, free parties appear to ‘achieve the impossible’ by creating alternative (and illegal) spaces in which both freedom and regulation are constituted in different ways compared to music festival settings.

Detecting disease outbreaks in mass gatherings using Internet data.

BackgroundMass gatherings, such as music festivals and religious events, pose a health care challenge because of the risk of transmission of communicable diseases. This is exacerbated by the fact that participants disperse soon after the gathering, potentially spreading disease within their communities. The dispersion of participants also poses a challenge for traditional surveillance methods. The ubiquitous use of the Internet may enable the detection of disease outbreaks through analysis of data generated by users during events and shortly thereafter.ObjectiveThe intent of the study was to develop algorithms that can alert to possible outbreaks of communicable diseases from Internet data, specifically Twitter and search engine queries.MethodsWe extracted all Twitter postings and queries made to the Bing search engine by users who repeatedly mentioned one of nine major music festivals held in the United Kingdom and one religious event (the Hajj in Mecca) during 2012, for a period of 30 days and after each festival. We analyzed these data using three methods, two of which compared words associated with disease symptoms before and after the time of the festival, and one that compared the frequency of these words with those of other users in the United Kingdom in the days following the festivals.ResultsThe data comprised, on average, 7.5 million tweets made by 12,163 users, and 32,143 queries made by 1756 users from each festival. Our methods indicated the statistically significant appearance of a disease symptom in two of the nine festivals. For example, cough was detected at higher than expected levels following the Wakestock festival. Statistically significant agreement (chi-square test, P<.01) between methods and across data sources was found where a statistically significant symptom was detected. Anecdotal evidence suggests that symptoms detected are indeed indicative of a disease that some users attributed to being at the festival.ConclusionsOur work shows the feasibility of creating a public health surveillance system for mass gatherings based on Internet data. The use of multiple data sources and analysis methods was found to be advantageous for rejecting false positives. Further studies are required in order to validate our findings with data from public health authorities.

Medical care and organisation at the 2012 Roskilde Music Festival: a prospective observational study.

Music festivals, with a mix of music, alcohol and camping at the festival site combined with low hygiene, have become an integral part of society and attracts large numbers of guests. Our study was performed in order to increase the very limited knowledge on health-care issues and organisation of major music festivals. Pre-defined illness and injury categories were constructed based on categories previously reported from music festivals. We prospectively recorded patient presentations to the Medical Health Care Organisation (MHCO) at the 2012 Roskilde Festival. During 10 days, more than 130,000 guests and volunteers attended the 2012 Roskilde Festival. Ten thousand six hundred thirty patient presentations were registered between the 30th of June and 9th of July 2012 by the MHCO. The majority of patient presentations, 6919, could be handled by first-aid volunteers with different levels of training. The remaining 3473 patient presentations were assessed to require further health-care competencies or additional resources such as prescriptions, medication or suturing. Two hundred thirty-eight patient presentations were triaged to a designated observation area. Two hundred sixty patients were referred to a local hospital, a general practitioner or a dentist. The overall patient presentation rate was 72/1000 attendees, and the transport-to-hospital rate was 1.8/1000 attendees. Our study demonstrates that illnesses and injuries are frequent, although mostly minor, in this normally low-risk population consisting of primarily young and healthy guests. However, comparison with other recent events was difficult as only limited data have been published from other music festivals. Future festivals should publish similar data.

Engaging with consumers using social media: a case study of music festivals

Purpose – Social media has fundamentally changed the consumer decision process, and in the last decade a more nuanced view of how consumers engage with brands has emerged. Instead of the traditional purchase funnel, consumers research products and services during an extended evaluation stage, and after purchase, they often enter into an open-ended relationship with the brand, sharing their experience with it using social media. This paper describes the new consumer decision journey, and then adds to the body of research on events and festivals management by applying this new model to events and festivals. Design/methodology/approach – The study uses a case study methodology with a multi-method approach to analyze the use of social media at three major music festivals. Case studies offer depth and comprehensiveness for understanding a specific phenomenon, enabling inductive and rich description, and are specifically welcome in new situations where little is known about the phenomenon. Findings – In general, the music festivals profiled are proactive in their use of social media, engaging with consumers throughout the consumer decision journey. In particular, social media is making the “evaluate” and “advocate” stages of the decision journey more relevant for festival marketers. Originality/value – This paper provides an illuminating view of the use of social media in an event and festival context. It supports the theory previously developed in this area, and is further evidence of the powerful impact that new technology can have on consumer behavior. The results have important implications for both researchers and practitioners interested in the marketing of festivals and events.