[r7000]

> Bands don't generally want to maximize revenue from any given gig

They do more nowadays. The old model of touring to drive demand for record sales has been turned upside-down. It is now sell music to drive demand for concert ticket sales.

Most (not all) artists now make much more of their overall revenue from touring and want to maximize the revenue there - without seeming too much like they are.

As well artists can sometimes have a narrow window of time to cash in.

[anigbrowl]

I never even mentioned record sales. I'm just saying that bands want fans who keep coming back over and over. They Might Be Giants are a good example of a band with a very 'sticky' fanbase.

[r7000]

I did not say you did. I mentioned record sales because the balance of from where artists revenue is coming is pushing artists to get more of their money from their gigs as other revenue sources have declined.

The motivation to keep fans coming back and not seem "too greedy" keep things in check but the balance of motivations has definitely shifted towards: we want more money from live events.

Decades ago concert ticket sales might have been considered almost a loss leader.