Pori Jazz festival reports third consecutive year of financial losses

The discussion surrounding the Pori Jazz festival remains heated. Following several years of financial losses, concerns were raised about attracting performers and the impact of expensive tickets and unpredictable weather on audience turnout. These fears have become reality, as the festival reported only 32,000 tickets sold this year, marking its third consecutive year of losses.

Sampsa Jolma, the festival’s new CEO, stated immediately after the event that despite the disappointing figures, the festival’s future is not in jeopardy and has simply returned to a normal level. However, Riku Räsänen, a veteran of the entertainment industry since 1991, disagrees. He believes Pori has reverted to lackluster commercial festivities, and that the jazz festival no longer differentiates itself from other Finnish festivals.

Räsänen reminisces about the time when Jyrki Kangas, the festival’s “father,” was the artistic director, striving to create an experience rather than just a venue for performances. He argues that when Kangas left in 2009, the festival lost its soul and the reasons for attending have diminished, likening Pori Jazz to other large Finnish festivals that he finds to be uninspiring.

To rejuvenate Pori Jazz, Räsänen suggests prioritizing creativity and possibly entrusting the event’s management to a larger entity like Live Nation Entertainment. He believes this could result in a reimagined festival that embodies passion and artistic integrity rather than merely a profit-driven approach. He also dismisses claims that transforming the event into an 18-and-over venue has led to a boycott, arguing instead that the new arrangement better serves attendees.