Performing Arts Groups NAICS 7111

Mar 23, 2026 - Solo Attendance Boosts Theaters

• US performing arts organizations are targeting solo attendees as a growth opportunity amid slow post-pandemic audience recovery and tighter consumer spending, according to a NPR report using recent data from the Broadway League. Nearly 20% of Broadway tickets are now purchased by solo attendees, double recent levels, while about 10% of live theater operator ATG Entertainment's local audiences buy single tickets. Initiatives like “Solo Seats" by ATG aim to reduce stigma and attract new patrons. With audiences still below expectations due to economic pressure and competition from streaming, theaters are leveraging the broader “solo leisure” trend to drive incremental attendance and diversify revenue streams.
• The price of admission to movies, theaters, and concerts rose 5.5% in February 2026 compared to a year ago, according to the Consumer Price Index from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Month over month, the price of admission rose 0.7% in February 2026. Employment by performing arts groups rose 12.7% in November 2025 compared to a year ago, according to data from the BLS. In the past decade, industry employment was up 39.1%, faster than the 12.5% growth in overall private employment. Average wages for nonsupervisory employees in the industry dropped 4.4% in November 2025 year over year, reaching $33.86 per hour. Total revenue for performing arts companies in Q2 increased 17% compared to a year ago and increased 2.9% compared to the previous quarter, according to the latest data from the Census Bureau.

• The US performing arts industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.08% between 2025 and 2029, according to an updated forecast from Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. The expected growth rate is faster than the overall economy's projected growth. Spending by US households and tourists, foreign students, and other visitors largely drives the arts, entertainment, and recreation industries. Consumer confidence is expected to improve in the forecast period, which bodes well for the sector. Further increases in tariffs and decreases in immigrant labor supplies may push price levels higher and postpone the improvement of inflation. The slow rise of employment and higher consumption prices may limit expansion of real disposable income to about 1.8% in 2025 and 1.6% in 2026.
• The US services sector expanded strongly in February 2026, but the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation industry remained in contraction, highlighting ongoing challenges for performing arts organizations, according to the latest ISM Services PMI Report. The Services PMI registered 56.1%, marking the 20th consecutive month of growth. Business activity (59.9%) and new orders (58.6%) increased across the broader economy, while employment rose modestly (51.8%). However, declines in new orders within the arts sector signal continued demand softness. At the same time, elevated cost pressures (Prices Index 63%, 15 straight months above 60%) are weighing on margins. Overall, performing arts organizations face a mixed environment of broader economic growth but persistent industry-specific demand and profitability challenges.