Imagine Broadway stages not just as venues for spectacle, but as economic powerhouses where a single show like *Hamilton* can generate billions, a reality underscored by a staggering $1.57 billion season that saw theatergoers flood back to New York at a 68% increase, proving the city's entertainment pulse beats stronger than ever.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2022-2023 Broadway season, total gross revenue reached $1.57 billion, a 45% increase from the previous season, driven by major hits like Hamilton and The Lion King
- Broadway attendance in New York City for 2022-2023 totaled 12.2 million patrons, up 68% from 2021-2022, with an average ticket price of $128.57
- There are 41 Broadway theaters in New York City, with 36 operating during the 2022-2023 season, hosting 35 productions including 17 new shows
- New York Film Production spending reached $1.2 billion in 2022, up 20% from 2021, supporting 12,500 jobs
- In 2023, NYC hosted 150 feature films, including major studio productions like The Equalizer 3, generating $800 million in economic impact
- New York State's film tax credit program distributed $700 million in 2022 to productions filming in NYC
- New York TV production days totaled 15,000 in 2022, up 25% YoY, supporting 20,000 jobs
- Netflix leased 100,000 sq ft in NYC for streaming production hub in 2023, investing $100 million
- Saturday Night Live has broadcast from NYC since 1975, 48 seasons, employing 300 staff weekly
- Madison Square Garden hosted 150 concerts in 2023, grossing $120 million in ticket sales
- Barclays Center Brooklyn music events 200+ in 2022, $150 million revenue, top acts Beyonce
- Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular 2023 sold 200,000 tickets, $40 million gross
- Summer in the City free concerts 2023 NYC Parks 1,000 events 2 million att
- Tribeca Festival 2023 600 events, 150 films, 150,000 attendees
- New York City Marathon 2023 50,000 runners, 2 million spectators, $427 million economic impact
Broadway and film production significantly boosted New York's economy last season.
Broadway Theater
- In the 2022-2023 Broadway season, total gross revenue reached $1.57 billion, a 45% increase from the previous season, driven by major hits like Hamilton and The Lion King
- Broadway attendance in New York City for 2022-2023 totaled 12.2 million patrons, up 68% from 2021-2022, with an average ticket price of $128.57
- There are 41 Broadway theaters in New York City, with 36 operating during the 2022-2023 season, hosting 35 productions including 17 new shows
- Hamilton has grossed over $1 billion on Broadway since its 2015 premiere, with weekly grosses averaging $2 million in peak weeks as of 2023
- The Lion King is the highest-grossing Broadway show ever, surpassing $1.8 billion in total box office as of 2023
- Wicked has played over 6,500 performances on Broadway by 2023, grossing more than $1.5 billion
- In 2023, Broadway shows employed over 15,000 people including actors, musicians, and crew, contributing $14.7 billion to the NYC economy annually
- Average Broadway ticket prices rose 12% to $129 in 2022-2023 from $115 the prior year, due to dynamic pricing strategies
- Chicago holds the record for longest-running Broadway revival with 26 years and over 10,000 performances as of 2023
- New Broadway musicals in 2022-2023 numbered 12, generating 52% of total Broadway gross revenue
- Broadway contributed $709 million in local taxes to NYC in FY2022, including sales and hotel occupancy taxes
- The Phantom of the Opera closed in 2023 after 35 years and 13,981 performances, the longest-running Broadway show ever
- In 2023, 85% of Broadway audiences were domestic tourists, with 40% from out-of-state, boosting NYC hotels by $1.2 billion
- Jersey Boys musical grossed $3.6 billion worldwide since 2005, with NYC Broadway run contributing $1.4 billion over 12 years
- Broadway League reports 2023 touring productions from NYC generated $1.1 billion nationwide
- Mamma Mia! has grossed $1.7 billion on Broadway since 2001, with over 6,300 performances by 2023
- In 2022-2023, non-profit Broadway theaters like Roundabout generated $250 million in revenue
- Aladdin Broadway show recouped its $15 million investment in 6 months, grossing $200 million by 2023
- Broadway's diversity: 45% of 2023 casts were BIPOC actors, up from 35% in 2019
- Frozen musical on Broadway grossed $150 million in first year despite mixed reviews
- Hadestown won 8 Tonys in 2019 and grossed $100 million on Broadway by 2023
- Six: The Musical opened Off-Broadway in 2021, transferred to Broadway in 2022, grossing $50 million by 2023
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical grossed $300 million on Broadway since 2019
- The Book of Mormon averages $1.5 million weekly gross, highest among straight plays
- Dear Evan Hansen grossed $260 million on Broadway over 6 years
- Come From Away recouped $12 million investment in 14 months, grossing $100 million by closure in 2022
- Broadway in 2023 had 1.4 million international visitors pre-pandemic levels
- The Music Man revival with Hugh Jackman grossed $80 million in 2022 despite short run
- To Kill a Mockingbird starring Jeff Daniels grossed $110 million since 2018
Broadway Theater Interpretation
Despite rebounding from the pandemic with roaring revenue, climbing attendance, and billion-dollar franchises, Broadway’s true long-term encore hinges on balancing its blockbuster economy with sustainable ticket pricing and consistent artistic innovation beyond the juggernauts.
Film Production
- New York Film Production spending reached $1.2 billion in 2022, up 20% from 2021, supporting 12,500 jobs
- In 2023, NYC hosted 150 feature films, including major studio productions like The Equalizer 3, generating $800 million in economic impact
- New York State's film tax credit program distributed $700 million in 2022 to productions filming in NYC
- Marvel Studios filmed Spider-Man: No Way Home in NYC locations in 2021, contributing $50 million to local economy
- Independent films shot in NYC totaled 250 in 2022, with Brooklyn serving as top location for 40%
- NYC's film permits issued reached 25,000 in 2022, a 15% increase, covering TV and commercials too
- The Wolf of Wall Street filmed in NYC in 2012, boosting local catering and equipment rentals by $10 million
- In 2023, streaming series like And Just Like That... Season 2 spent $40 million filming in Manhattan
- NYC soundstage space expanded to 500,000 sq ft by 2023, with Silvercup Studios leading at 150,000 sq ft
- Joker (2019) filmed entirely in NYC, grossing $1 billion worldwide and injecting $60 million locally
- 60% of NYC film productions in 2022 were TV series, spending $900 million total
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art hosted 20 film shoots in 2022, generating $5 million in fees and rentals
- NYC's film industry employed 28,000 people in 2022, with average salary $85,000
- Uncut Gems (2019) shot in NYC diamond district, authentic locations added $2 million in local business
- In 2023, 35% of US feature films had NYC scenes, per MPAA report adapted for local data
- Steiner Studios in Brooklyn expanded to 1 million sq ft by 2023, hosting Netflix and Amazon productions
- NYC film tax incentives saved productions $150 million in 2022, attracting 100+ projects
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse used NYC animation studios, contributing $20 million in VFX work
- Law & Order franchise filmed 500 episodes in NYC since 1990, total spend $2 billion+
- In 2022, NYC hosted 1,200 commercials shoots, generating $300 million
- The Goldfinch (2019) filmed at NYC locations, local hires totaled 500 crew members
- Kaufman Astoria Studios hosted 50 productions in 2022, including Sesame Street
- NYC film exports via post-production reached $400 million in 2022 to global markets
- Ocean's 8 (2018) filmed at Met steps, boosted tourism by 10% post-release
- 2023 saw 40 student films from NYU Tisch permitted daily average
- Total NYC film payroll taxes paid $100 million in 2022
- Succession Season 4 filmed in NYC, HBO spend $30 million locally in 2023
Film Production Interpretation
New York’s film industry is essentially a well-funded, job-creating blockbuster that plays on a loop, where tax credits are the opening credits and every neighborhood, from the Met steps to a Brooklyn soundstage, is a star.
Live Events and Festivals
- Summer in the City free concerts 2023 NYC Parks 1,000 events 2 million att
- Tribeca Festival 2023 600 events, 150 films, 150,000 attendees
- New York City Marathon 2023 50,000 runners, 2 million spectators, $427 million economic impact
- Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023 3.5 million live viewers, 50 million TV, 85th year
- US Open Tennis Flushing Meadows 2023 900,000 attendance over 2 weeks
- Comic-Con NYC variant 2023 Javits Center 50,000 att, 500 exhibitors
- Broadway Under the Stars free summer series 2023 10 shows 20,000 att
- Fashion Week NY Sept 2023 200+ shows, 100,000 visitors, $900 million impact
- Pride March NYC 2023 2 million participants/spectators, 50 floats
- Village Halloween Parade 2023 60,000 marchers, 600,000 watchers
- Jingle Ball Z100 MSG 2023 15,000 att, top pop stars
- Shakespeare in the Park 2023 30 performances, 100,000 free tickets
- Rooftop Summer Cinema Bryant Park 2023 50 films, 25,000 att
- Battery Dance Festival 2023 100 companies, 40 countries, free public
- NYC Wine & Food Festival 2023 80 events, 25,000 guests, $10 million raised charity
- Museum Mile Festival 2023 6th Ave museums free entry, 50,000 visitors
- River to River Festival 2023 200+ free events downtown, 100,000 att
- Jazz Age Lawn Party Governors Island 2023 10,000 att per day x2
- Feast of San Gennaro Little Italy 2023 4 days, 1 million visitors
- Outdoor Cinema Screens Under the Stars 2023 100 films 50,000 att free
- BKLYN Night Bazaar 2023 weekly summer 20 events 50,000 total att
- Seaport Music Festival 2023 Pier 17 20 shows 40,000 att
- NYC Poetry Festival Governors Island 2023 100 poets, 5,000 att
- Bastille Day French Festival 2023 Midtown 10,000 att
- Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival Flushing Meadows 2023 3,000 racers 100,000 spec
- BRIC Biennial art festival 2023 50 artists 20,000 visitors free
- Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit 2023 300 artists spring/fall
- NYC International Fringe Festival 2023 200 shows 20 venues 30,000 att
- Cherry Blossom Festival Brooklyn Botanic 2023 100,000 visitors peak bloom
- Times Square New Year's Eve 2023 1 million crowd, global broadcast
- West Indian Day Parade Brooklyn 2023 2 million att, Carnival route
Live Events and Festivals Interpretation
The sheer volume of New York's year-round cultural buffet, from millions cheering marathoners to thousands whispering at poetry readings, proves the city doesn't just host events—it metabolizes them into a thriving, multi-billion dollar ecosystem of pure, unadulterated human energy.
Music Industry
- Madison Square Garden hosted 150 concerts in 2023, grossing $120 million in ticket sales
- Barclays Center Brooklyn music events 200+ in 2022, $150 million revenue, top acts Beyonce
- Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular 2023 sold 200,000 tickets, $40 million gross
- NYC live music venues number 500+, hosting 50,000 events yearly pre-pandemic
- Billie Eilish MSG residency 2023 sold 40,000 tickets at $150 avg price
- Wu-Tang Clan origin NYC, 2023 reunion tour started MSG, $10 million night
- Lincoln Center outdoor concerts free series 2023 drew 100,000 attendees
- NYC hip-hop scene: 40% of Billboard top rappers from NYC metro 2023
- SummerStage Central Park 100 free concerts 2023, 500,000 attendance
- Terminal 5 venue closed 2023, hosted 1,000 shows since 2007
- Lady Gaga born NYC, Eras tour stop MSG 2022 grossed $15 million
- Jazz at Lincoln Center 300 events yearly, $20 million budget
- Bowery Ballroom 500 capacity, 200 shows 2023 avg $50k gross monthly
- Taylor Swift MSG 3 nights July 2018 grossed $14 million record
- NYC record labels: Sony Music HQ employs 2,000, $1 billion revenue 2022
- Webster Hall 1,500 cap, renovated 2017, 150 events $30 million annual
- Village Vanguard jazz club 90+ years, 500 shows yearly $5 million gross
- Governors Ball Festival 2023 Randalls Island 100,000 attendees, $25 million revenue
- Apollo Theater Harlem 100 years, Amateur Night 2023 20 shows 50,000 att
- Nirvana MTV Unplugged NYC 1993 recording 10 million albums sold
- Brooklyn Steel venue 1,800 cap, 250 shows 2023 $40 million est
- Carnegie Hall 2023 season 170 concerts, 300,000 tickets sold
- Beastie Boys NYC origin, MSG 2004 reunion $8 million night
- BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn festival 2023 50 shows 40,000 att free/paid
- Mercury Lounge 250 cap, 300 gigs yearly $10 million circuit contrib
- Ed Sheeran MSG 13 shows 2018 grossed $100 million+
- NYC Spotify streams 2023 50 billion songs from local artists
- Blue Note Jazz Club 400 shows yearly, $15 million revenue
- Pier 17 rooftop concerts 2023 50 events 100,000 att $20 million
- Jay-Z Reasonable Doubt 1996 NYC launch, Tidal streaming HQ NYC
- New York Philharmonic 180 concerts yearly David Geffen Hall, 400,000 att
- NYC New Year's Eve ball drop Times Square 1 billion TV viewers, music acts
- Electric Zoo EDM festival Randall's Island 2023 150,000 att over 3 days
Music Industry Interpretation
New York's entertainment industry isn't just a stage; it's a sprawling economic and cultural engine, from Beyoncé commanding millions at Barclays to a jazz club surviving ninety years in a basement, proving that whether you're paying $150 for Billie Eilish or dancing free in Central Park, the city's heartbeat is set to a live soundtrack.
Television and Streaming
- New York TV production days totaled 15,000 in 2022, up 25% YoY, supporting 20,000 jobs
- Netflix leased 100,000 sq ft in NYC for streaming production hub in 2023, investing $100 million
- Saturday Night Live has broadcast from NYC since 1975, 48 seasons, employing 300 staff weekly
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon films in Rockefeller Center, drawing 4 million viewers nightly average 2023
- Hulu's Only Murders in the Building Seasons 1-3 spent $120 million in NYC filming by 2023
- CNN's NYC studios produce 24/7 news, with 2,000 employees and $500 million annual budget
- 30 Rock (NBC) series finale in 2013, but building hosts multiple shows generating $200 million yearly
- Billions (Showtime) filmed 7 seasons in NYC, total local spend $250 million
- NYC streaming content consumption: 70% of households subscribed to 3+ services in 2023
- Late Night with Seth Meyers averages 1.2 million viewers, filmed in NYC
- The View daytime talk show from ABC NYC studio reaches 2.5 million viewers daily
- HBO Max original series like Gossip Girl reboot spent $80 million on NYC production 2021-2023
- NYC public access channels like MNN produce 5,000 hours of content yearly with 1,000 producers
- Friends reunion special filmed partial in NYC 2021, boosting WarnerMedia streaming subs by 10%
- Daily Show with Trevor Noah taped in NYC, Comedy Central show with 1 million viewers
- Streaming platforms filmed 50 series in NYC 2023, Amazon Prime leading with 15
- CBS This Morning from NYC studios, 3 million weekly viewers pre-2023 rebrand
- Pose (FX) all 3 seasons in NYC, $150 million budget highlighting ballroom culture
- 40% of US late-night TV produced in NYC, generating $1 billion economy impact
- Apple TV+ The Morning Show partial NYC shoots, $15 million per episode budget
- NYC TV news stations 7 total, covering 20 million viewers in metro area daily
- Younger (TV Land) 7 seasons NYC, Paramount spend $100 million
- Streaming ad spend in NYC media market $2.5 billion in 2023
- SNL digital clips on YouTube 20 billion views since 2005, NYC production
- Emily in Paris Netflix used NYC for pilot, spin-off potential $50 million
- NYC PBS station WNET produces 1,000 hours national content yearly
- Real Housewives of New York City Bravo series, 14 seasons $200 million revenue
- Law & Order: SVU 25 seasons, 550 episodes NYC filmed, $3 billion total spend est.
Television and Streaming Interpretation
While the constant glow of screens might suggest Hollywood runs the show, New York’s entertainment industry—a formidable economic engine churning out billions from streaming hubs and iconic studios to the relentless rhythm of 24/7 news—proves the city that never sleeps is also the city that never stops filming, broadcasting, and cashing the checks.
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