Across the Tracks: Exploring the Interdependence between the Music Industry and the Transport Sector

by idkblanco | 8 min read

The music industry is often analysed through lenses of production, consumption, and creativity. However, like any vibrant ecosystem, music relies on a network of ancillary industries to thrive. Among these, the transport industry is perhaps the most overlooked yet crucial facilitator of growth. From touring logistics and festival supply chains to urban mobility for audiences and cross-border trade of musical goods, transport serves as a circulatory system for music economies.

In the landscape of South Africa, the intersection of the music and transport ecosystems is more than a surface-level phenomenon – it is a strategic union that powers local economic development. Music festivals and events serve as significant economic drivers, attracting tourists, creating employment opportunities, and promoting local businesses. However, the success of these events is intricately linked to the efficiency and accessibility of the transport infrastructure. This article unpacks how these two sectors collaborate, not only to drive tourism but also to catalyse broader social and economic progress within host communities.

Transport: The Industry Behind the Industry

Transport serves as the logistical backbone of South Africa’s music economy. Its significance is evident in the daily movement of musicians, technical teams, sound equipment, and merchandise. Ducruet and Rozenblat (2011) observe in their spatial analysis of global logistics that “the interdependence between air and sea transport... reflects a pattern of mutual reliance between cities and mobility networks that transcends national boundaries.” This global dynamic finds a specific parallel in South Africa, where regional and international transport corridors facilitate everything from domestic tours to large-scale international festivals. Here, transport is not a passive conduit; it is an active contributor to the value chain within the music ecosystem.

Touring South Africa: A Geography of Distance and Cost

Touring within South Africa presents unique challenges rooted in the country's vast territorial expanse and infrastructural disparities. The logistical difficulties – stemming from long distances between major cities, such as the over 1,400 km stretch from Cape Town to Johannesburg, limited rail services, and unevenly developed road networks – impact both the feasibility and cost of live performances. This reality is echoed by Mishan and Prangley (2014) who note, inadequate and costly transport infrastructure continues to “limit collaborative efforts between organisations” and restricts access to broader markets and audiences. These challenges underscore that the issue extends beyond physical movement to encompass broader themes of access and equity, particularly for artists operating in rural or peri-urban regions.

Music Festivals: A Logistics Ecosystem

The vibrancy of South Africa’s music festivals – from the Cape Town International Jazz Festival to Rocking the Daisies and Standard Bank Joy of Jazz – is inextricably linked to sophisticated transport planning. These events require complex and coordinated transport arrangements that include cargo trucks for equipment, shuttle buses for fans and staff, air travel for headline performers, and local taxis or rideshares to facilitate audience movement. In a similar vein, the logistical synchronisation required for music festivals creates temporary urban hubs that highlight the mutual reinforcement of cultural production and transport infrastructure.

The Movement of Music as Product

Despite the digital revolution in music consumption, physical media such as vinyl records, cassettes, merchandise, and musical instruments continue to hold cultural and economic significance. The efficient movement and timely delivery of these products is contingent on reliable and agile transportation systems. In South Africa, the operational viability of independent record pressing plants and local music stores is deeply embedded within a broader logistics network that sustains not only commercial interests but also cultural identity.

Cross-Border Cultural Mobility

The international success of movements such as Amapiano illustrates how cultural mobility transcends local boundaries. An artist such as Uncle Waffles capitalises on global opportunities that are made possible through extensive transport networks, supportive air routes, and accommodating visa policies. Reflecting on the transformation of artistic identity under the influence of overseas mobility, it may be stated that the concept of ‘overseas’ shapes how artists construct their identity, aspirations, and career trajectories. Black Coffee is an exemplary case of this perception when you consider his international residencies and recent approach to collaboration. The practical realities of cross-border travel thus enable not only individual success stories but also foster broader cultural exchange.

Local Music Economies and Urban Mobility

Within urban centres, everyday transport profoundly affects which concerts are accessible, where gigs are hosted, and the overall success of performance venues. The minibus taxi industry – a cornerstone of urban mobility in South Africa, especially in townships and informal settlements – plays a vital yet complex role in audience mobility. However, inconsistent routes and safety concerns, particularly during nighttime hours, often impede attendance at live music events. The movement of audiences is an essential but often invisible component of the creative economy. Without affordable and secure access to venues, cultural consumption collapses. Integrating considerations of cultural mapping into urban transport planning is therefore critical to fostering inclusive access to live performances.

Music Tourism: A Hidden Giant

Music-driven tourism represents an often-underappreciated economic force in South Africa. Cultural events attract visitors from across the globe, thereby bolstering sectors beyond music – most notably air travel, hospitality, and local transport services. Nowadays, tourism is no longer a passive byproduct of globalisation but a driver of economic co-dependency... music events contribute significantly to global-local economic circuits.

Festivals, particularly music festivals, have emerged as niche drivers for local economic development in South Africa. Events like the Cape Town International Jazz Festival have been instrumental in promoting regional tourism, creating employment, and fostering community engagement – empirical studies and economic reports have showcased specific figures that illustrate this impact. Drawing insight from ATTA, the cultural phenomenon attracts more than 34 000 attendees each year, contributing R600 million to the local economy and generating over 3 000 employment opportunities – underscoring the significant role events of this magnitude play as economic engines.

Investments in intercity rail and festival-specific transport services not only enhance the cultural appeal of music events but also unlock broader macroeconomic benefits. Having committed R940 billion towards infrastructure development across the next three years in his (President Cyril Ramaphosa) previous State of the Nation Address, it would be enabling if a portion of this fund was invested in the mobility of the Cultural and Creative Industries.

Beyond the Gig: Intersectoral Collaboration

Despite the evident intersections between the music and transport sectors, current policies often see these fields operating in isolation. A coordinated approach that bridges these silos can foster more sustainable industry growth. Proposals for intersectoral collaboration include subsidising cross-province artist travel, incentivising environmentally friendly tour logistics, and creating shared transport solutions that support rural creatives. One can advocate that the African music identity must strategically align with infrastructure development frameworks to be competitive globally. Post-pandemic recovery strategies, in particular, provide an opportunity for policymakers to re-envision transport as an integral component of the creative economy.

Across the Tracks

The interdependence between South Africa’s music industry and its transport sector reveals a critical, yet often understated, foundation upon which cultural production stands. Whether through the coordinated movement of festival infrastructure, the facilitation of cross-border tours, or the everyday logistics of urban performance accessibility, transport is the steady rhythm underlying the vibrant melodies of South African music. Recognising and investing in this synergy is essential for policymakers, urban planners, and industry stakeholders aiming to sustain and nurture a creative economy that is as dynamic and resilient as the music it supports.