Highlights

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1. Total operating revenues for the performing arts industry reached $1.4 billion in 2008, up 5.6% from 2007. These revenues were split almost equally between the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors.
2. Operating expenses for the industry totalled just under $1.3 billion. Nearly one-third of operating expenses of performing arts companies consisted of salaries, wages and benefits paid to employees. The salaries and wages expense does not include fees paid to contract workers.
3. For the for-profit companies, the profit margin rose from 12.9% to 13.2%, while the not-for-profit companies decreased from 0.2% to 0.0%.
4. Musical groups and artists (everything from orchestras to rock groups) accounted for 30% of total operating revenue in 2008, while theatre (except musical) companies accounted for 27%. The remaining 43% was split among musical theatre groups, including opera companies, as well as dance companies and a miscellaneous category that includes circuses and ice skating shows.
5. Results in the rest of the release are based on not-for-profit surveyed establishments.
6. For results in the not-for-profit sector, the sales of goods and services generated almost half of all revenues while grants, subsidies, donations and fundraising generated the other half. Overall, the performing arts industry attracted an estimated 13.7 million spectators in 2008, up 2.5 % from 2006. Theatre (except musical) companies comprised the largest segment of the not-for-profit sector in 2008, attracting 54.7% of total attendance and 48.7% of total operating revenues.