Since when did DJ's become as important than bands?

[Uncle Liam]

Djs just playing mixes of other people's tracks for 2-3 hours is cheaper than a band playing for 1 hour and 45 mins, not to mention easier to set up and all the rest of it.

In terms of the crap electronic music (Guetta, Harris and a few others) cross overs with mainstream pop acts has brought in new audiences and companies got interested in the commercial possibilities, advertising money has got into the mix and that usually gives an industry a boom/exposure.

But is the festival industry booming? I don't think it is. Not like it was 5-10 years ago when all the major festivals would sell out the morning/evening they went on sale. In fact, the tag line anytime tickets would go on sale would be "Get 'em quick" if I recall correctly.

But I suppose that's just ticket sales which is just one source of revenue I guess?

[WS_Jack_III]

I mean the electronic music industry.

[PastCaring]

While there's no doubt that dance tents have become an important and popular feature of festivals these days (if only to provide something to do after hours! , I primarily go to festivals for the live music and I, personally, think that the dance tent is the place for dance music. I can't help seeing dj sets, etc., as a cheap and convenient alternative to live bands and I tend to feel severely short-changed if I'm presented with a dj or a sound system as a main stage headliner, for example. Younger people, who haven't known festivals any other way, may see it differently, however.

[viberunner]

I don't know if it's just an age thing, I'm middle-aged now (I guess) and I do love live band music, but also I'd rather see The Chemical Brothers headline than Kasabian, just as I would prefer to see Hawkwind over Deadmau5.