The economic impact is even more than that of the construction industry, which only contributed $619 billion. Consumer spending on performing arts grew ten percent annually since 1998, and performing arts services has grown faster than arts and culture in general. Since 2006 the arts have also maintained and even grown a trade surplus, which now stands at $24.1 billion.
Live Nation had record high revenue of $7.6 billion in 2015, up 11 percent from the previous year. Profits were sharply up to $155.9 million. In 2015 Live Nation promoted 25,000 concerts with more than 63 million patrons.
Seraphic Fire will celebrate its 15th anniversary next season. They will celebrate by presenting seven new works, including two by Miami-based composers. The premieres are courtesy of a Knight Foundation grant. The choir will also perform with the Cleveland Orchestra for the first time.
As part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's birth, the Kennedy Center has engaged rapper and record producer Q-Tip as the center's first hip-hop director. The center has presented hip-hop along with other genres for the past 15 years, but this will be the first time it will be presented in a cohesive way.
New York City has announced $2 million in grants to support racial diversity in theater. The grants will provide training for production and technical personnel, administrative and management personnel, and non-performing artistic personnel such as directors and designers.
Broadway's Wicked has joined The Lion King and Phantom of the Opera as one of the three shows that have earned over $1 billion at the Broadway box office. Wicked reached the total faster than the other two shows, and has grossed nearly $4 billion globally.
The Cleveland Orchestra is celebrating the close of the 10th season of its Miami Residency. The final concerts of the season included premiere performances of Siklon by Israeli-born composer Avner Dorman, which was commissioned by the Arsht Center for the orchestra. Orchestra members also gave free performances at 10 local public libraries. In the 10 years of the residency, the orchestra has preformed more than 400 concerts, reaching 250,000 people, and has established partnerships with more than 300 schools and other organizations.