David Bowie's at the Victoria and Albert was immensely popular in 2013. The one including Elvis-related artefacts currently on at the O2 Arena is also seeming to be a crowd puller. Now The Rolling Stones seem to have agreed to a showcase event at the Saatchi Gallery in London. What type of event seems to be attracting visitors in their hundreds of thousands? Why, it's the current trend for exhibitions featuring the rare memorabilia from famous pop and rock stars.
The savvy business people in the Music industry seem to have tapped into a profitable market.
They have recognised that although record sales may be falling, an exhibition represents a chance for famous music acts with longevity and a global fan base to cash in on their popularity.
Bowie always forward thinking
Bowie has been known to have his finger on the pulse in terms of the latest developments in the music industry in the past. His David Bowie is exhibition was yet another demonstration of his undoubted acumen when it comes to spotting a lucrative opportunity. Covering five decades in a colourful and highly successful life and career, the exhibition scaled the heights with over 300,000 visitors in 2013. As such, it became the V&A's most popular exhibition of all-time.
Although Bowie's exhibition closed its doors in Britain in August 2013, the Show was packed up and moved on to other major museums across the world over the following three years.
Toronto, Sao Paulo, Chicago, Paris and then The Netherlands will all witness the spectacle.
O2 exhibition popular
Similar success seems to be evident at the O2 for the Elvis-themed show. The authentic artefacts that can be viewed include several that have been loaned from his former American home in Graceland. With visitor numbers currently high, the show looks set to be extended for a longer period than originally planned and should now run through to January.
The Rolling Stones' exhibit
The Rolling Stones are to allow an exhibition covering their lengthy music career to be held in London from next April, for an initial period of three months. Extensive plans are then in place for the show to tour the world's major cities, including Los Angeles, New York and Tokyo over a period of around four years.
With such great expectations as to its success, the show needed a suitably flamboyant title, so what better than Exhibitionism? There should certainly be plenty of artefacts to choose from after a career spanning over 50 years as well, with stage costumes, guitars, artwork and a look into their diaries all expected to feature in the interactive tour. In total, over 500 pieces from the personal collections of the famous group will be included.
Even school parties have been considered, with the Stones' exhibition providing discounts on tickets to encourage them to join in on the rock history extravaganza.
Assuming that the Stones' show is popular, as expected, then there seems little reason why other leading rock and pop artists would not follow suit. 'Popular' culture is just that at present and an exhibition or interactive show seems as good a means as any to educate the next generation on its music history.
