Take It to Another Level! Technology-Enhanced Music Festival Experiences

Abstract

This chapter examines existing research on the relationship between technology-enhanced devices, music festivals, and audience experiences in the twenty-first century. It specifically explores the ways in which digital technologies have transformed festival connectivity, socialization, and participation. Attention is paid to the shifting dynamics of power within festival culture, as fans increasingly shape and personalize their experiences through digital engagement, social media practices, and participatory platforms, thus reformatting the relationship between audiences, performers, and organizers. At the same time, the chapter critically considers some of the limitations of digital technology within festival settings, such as infrastructural constraints, limited usability, and accessibility, as well as the persistence of digital exclusion. While enhanced technology can enhance participation, it may also reproduce inequalities and create new forms of dependency and surveillance. Drawing on a case study of the award-winning EDM festival Electric Castle in Romania, the chapter illustrates how digital technology is no longer supplementary to music festivals but increasingly central to how music events are organized, mediated, and experienced. The chapter argues that digital technology will continue to play a defining role in shaping the future of music festivals and audience participation.