Bands, Orchestras, Actors, and Other Entertainers Entertainment Groups

The more than 38,000 establishments in this diverse industry employed more than 135,000 people in 2009. Combined, the total industry revenues for entertainers and entertainment groups, not including live theatrical presentations, was $5.56 billion.

Music.
The pop music concert circuit reached record levels in the late 1990s and continued to grow dramatically in the new century. Internationally, concert receipts totaled $1.3 billion in 1999, up 12 percent from 1998, while North American revenues reached $1.23 billion, representing an increase of 11 percent. However, these numbers were soon outstripped in the early 2000s, with grosses growing each year. By 2004, North American revenues reached $2.8 billion. The top performers who contributed to these numbers were mostly familiar names. According to a Billboard report on the most successful tours of 2004, among the top 25 acts only five found commercial success since 2000. Seven groups dated from the 1970s, two from the 1960s, five from the 1980s, and eight from the 1990s. That year, Madonna grossed $125 million at the box office, earning her the top spot among tours. Prince sold more tickets than any other artist, with almost 1.5 million in sales grossing $90.2 million. Other top performers in 2004 included Shania Twain with $62.5 million; Simon & Garfunkel, who brought in almost $60 million with their Old Friends tour; Metallica, which grossed $53.8 million; and Sting, whose continued popularity was evidenced by a $52.4 million tour. The top country performer in 2004 was Kenny Chesney, who sold more tickets than any other act in his genre and grossed just below $50 million. In 2006, the top musicians in terms of revenue for the year were The Rolling Stones, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts, Madonna, and Barbra Streisand.

In 2007, North American concert receipts topped $3.9 billion, up 8 percent from 2006. Revenues increased again in 2008, to $4.2 billion, based primarily on increased ticket prices. Average ticket price was $66.90, up 8 percent from the previous year. Ticket sales, however, were down 3 percent to 35.6 million. The top 10 grossing concerts in 2008 were Madonna ($105 million), Celine Dion ($94 million), Eagles ($73.4 million), Kenny Chesney ($72.2 million), Bon Jovi ($70.4 million), Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band ($69.3 million), Neil Diamond ($59.8 million), Rascal Flatts ($55.8 million), The Police ($48 million), and Tina Turner ($47.7 million).

After making an unexpected surge in the late 1990s, with attendance by 18- to 24-year-olds growing by 15 percent between 1989 and 1999, opera faced troubled times in the 2000s. Ticket sales slowed, subscriptions dropped, fundraising lost momentum, and some programs were cancelled. In 2002, Chicago's Lyric Opera was left with empty seats after boasting 14 consecutive years of sold-out programs. Corporate, individual, and government funding declined dramatically, with many sources shrinking because of ties to the stock market. However, in fiscal year 2008, Congress approved a $20.3 million increase in the budget for the National Endowment for the Arts--the largest single increase in more than 30 years. Nonetheless, smaller companies in particular continued to struggle to make ends meet in the late 2000s as the country struggled through the worst recession since the Great Depression. For example, in the summer of 2009, the small but critically acclaimed Opera Company of Brooklyn was threatening to close its doors, despite having slashed its budget and surviving primarily with volunteer members. Opera houses that were doing well were sticking to well-known productions, such as "La Boheme," "Carmen," and "La Traviata."

Symphony orchestras were similarly hurt in the 2000s, facing sales and funding troubles as well as continued concern about creating new classical music fans. The League of American Orchestras estimated that about two-thirds of its member organizations, of which there were a total of nearly 1,000 in 2009, operated at a deficit in 2002. While that status improved in 2003 and 2004, some symphonies succumbed to economic pressures. In 2004, five U.S. symphonies closed within a seven-month period: the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, San Jose Symphony, the Tulsa Philharmonic, the Colorado Springs Symphony, and the San Antonio Symphony. In 2008, North America's last remaining radio orchestra, located in Vancouver, folded. Although the economic landscape continued to be difficult in the late 2000s, not all symphonies were struggling. For example, in June 2009, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra reported record revenues of $11 million for its recently concluded season.

Comedians and Actors.
While comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Carrey rose to the top of the entertainment pay scale through their work in film and television, those comedians working standup found the 2000s difficult. A 2004 report in Variety found that New York comedy clubs paid only $60 for a 20-minute set. A coalition of some 300 comedians hoped to convince comedy club owners to double that rate. In 2008, Charlie Sheen was the highest-paid television comedy actor in the country, for a second year in a row. Sheen reportedly earned $860,000 per episode for his hit show "Two and a Half Men," and he served as the show's co-producer. Seinfeld was still at the top of the pay scale, even years after the end of his self-titled television show, due primarily to millions of dollars in syndication income. According to Forbes, the top eight paid comedians from June 1, 2008 to June 1, 2009 were Jerry Seinfeld: ($85 million), Chris Rock ($42 million), Jeff Dunham ($30 million), Dane Cook ($20 million), George Lopez ($20 million), Howie Mandel ($15 million), Larry the Cable Guy ($13 million), and Jeff Foxworthy ($11 million).

Actors.
Although the talents of musicians and actors differ, the most successful ones were rather similar. They were wealthy and powerful, and had national, if not international, name recognition. Screen actors were generally the most high-profile and glamorous personalities in entertainment. According to Forbes, from June 1, 2008 to June 1, 2009, Harrison Ford was the top paid actor, riding the success of his return to the Indiana Jones series. Ford reportedly earned nearly $65 million of the 12-month period. Following Ford, in second place was Adam Sandler ($55 million). Will Smith, Eddie Murphy, and Nicolas Cage rounded out the top five.

The average actor, however, relied on union representation to glean far more modest increases in pay. The 2009 Screen Actors' Guild contract allowed for a 3.0 percent and 3.5 percent increase in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The contract set minimum pay requirement for everyday actors. A television performer or stunt performer minimum was $782 in 2009. On a weekly basis, a performer must be paid at least $2,713 and a stunt performer, $2,913. Depending on their role, background actors were paid between $134 and $149. A "major role" performer was paid a minimum of $4,301 for a half hour show and $6,882 for an hour show.