Key facts
- Live music performances on late-night television have significantly decreased.
- Shows like 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' and 'The Late Late Show' have eliminated or not revived music segments.
- Emerging artists view late-night TV as a valuable platform for gaining new audiences.
- New online media and creators are emerging to fill the gap left by traditional television.
- Platforms like TikTok have become crucial for artists to achieve viral success and exposure.
The landscape of music performance on late-night television has significantly contracted, leaving emerging artists with fewer traditional avenues for exposure. Shows like CBS's 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' and 'The Late Late Show' have either ended or ceased robust music segments, while others, such as NBC's 'Late Night With Seth Meyers' and ABC's 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', have reduced their musical offerings. Only NBC's 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' consistently features live performances.
Historically, performing on late-night television provided a substantial boost for artists, offering access to new audiences and significant career momentum. The band Future Islands, for instance, experienced a surge in opportunities after their 2014 appearance on 'Late Show with David Letterman,' a sentiment echoed by bassist William Cashion who noted that the performance shifted the band's trajectory.
This decline in late-night slots particularly impacts independent and developing artists who could greatly benefit from such exposure. Representatives for CBS, NBC, and ABC did not respond to requests for comment. Chloë Walsh, co-founder of publicity firm The Oriel, highlighted that while bookers champion artists, fewer slots mean increased competition for big names, leaving less room for emerging talent.
However, new media platforms are emerging as alternatives. Artists are finding success through viral hits on platforms like TikTok, as seen with Gigi Perez's 'Sailor Song' and Malcolm Todd's career launch. Beach Bunny's 'Prom Queen' also gained traction online, leading to TV performances. Even established artists like Weezer have seen older tracks resurface and gain popularity on TikTok.
Beach Bunny singer Lili Trifilio noted that short-form content has replaced many aspects of the album cycle, lamenting the loss of late-night's service to musicians. She believes artists are now largely responsible for their own promotion on platforms like TikTok, suggesting that self-made clips may not hold the same value as a dedicated TV performance.
Creators are actively developing new formats to fill this void. Walsh pointed to "Track Star(asterisk)," an online music trivia series that now hosts live performances, and Julian Shapiro-Barnum's YouTube show "Outside Tonight." Shapiro-Barnum created "Outside Tonight" to offer a different take on late-night, featuring outdoor settings and independent musical bookings, emphasizing that music is a core element of the show. He stated that digital media circumvents traditional industry barriers, allowing for innovative approaches to late-night programming.