Performing arts has been focused on the quality of art works rather than marketing approaches that enhance comsumer satisfaction and activate the performing arts industry. Hence, most performing arts organizations have relied upon government funds and...
Performing arts has been focused on the quality of art works rather than marketing approaches that enhance comsumer satisfaction and activate the performing arts industry. Hence, most performing arts organizations have relied upon government funds and corporate sponsorships. Economic development and industrialization have brought increased leisure time and income levels all around the world. Accordingly people show the tendency to consume performing arts for their fluent life styles.
Performing arts, including Musicals, has become a necessary part of our cultural life, firms actively use the performing arts as a marketing tool, in a way that they provide free Musical tickets to their VIP customers. As the importance of performing arts increases and the performing arts industry is growing, there is a need to adopt the concept of marketing and communication into the performing arts industry.
Although studies have been conducted on performing arts in recent time, however they are mostly exploratory attempts. Also, many studies did not include influential factors affecting consumer satisfaction such as the marketing mix and psychological factors. It is very urgent to develop theories and models relating to the marketing mix and segmentation for boosting the performing arts industry.
To overcome these limitations, the study focuses on the musical industry which shows rapid growth in rent years. As a result of literature review, it was found that 7Ps, which have been essential marketing mix elements of service marketing, and customer needs to view musical performances were influential factors affecting consumer satisfaction. In addition, Musicals are classified into two categories: original, written in Korea, and licensed, imported from foreign countries. It was expected that customer satisfaction would be influenced by the art work type: original or licensed.
The study selected the marketing mix and customer needs as independent variables. As the marketing mix and customer needs were expected to interact each other, customer needs were considered as moderating variables. The art work type, original or licensed was included as a moderating variable. Dependent variable was customer satisfaction with musical performances. Additionally, the relationship between customer satisfaction and the intention to recommend was tested.
The study conducted a survey with 300 people living in Seoul who experienced musical performances more than once. The data was analyzed by SPSSWin 15.0. In terms of a statistical package, Regression and Correlation Analysis were performed for investigating the relationships between marketing mix 7Ps and consumer satisfaction, between consumer needs and consumer satisfaction. ANOVA was utilized for examining the moderating effect of consumer needs and the art work type between 7Ps and consumer satisfaction.
The results showed that among 7Ps, art work, price, word-of-mouth, process had influences on consumer satisfaction at a statistically significant level. Art work showed the strongest influence, and followed by price, word-of-mouth, process respectively. Theater, advertising, staff, and physical environment were not influential factors for consumer satisfaction.
Among consumer needs, self-development need and leisure need were found to be influential factors for consumer satisfaction. Self-development need showed stronger influence than leisure need. Self-actualization need did not show significant influence.
In terms of the moderating effect of consumer needs between 7Ps and consumer satisfaction, it was found that self-development need moderated art work, price, and process, leisure need moderated price, word-of-mouth, process. The art work type moderated price and process.
These results imply that, as pricing and process are influenced by consumer needs and the art work type, target markets should be segmented by self-development need, leisure need, and the art work type. Also various strategies for various target markets are needed. Art work should be segmented by self-development, and word-of-mouth should be segmented by leisure need.
The study investigated the influences of marketing mix elements, consumer satisfaction, and the art work type on consumer satisfaction, and found that the musical industry is not a simple market but a very complex compound of segments. Accordingly, it should be recognized that the musical industry is composed of various segmented markets, and different strategies should be prepared for those markets.
The results of this research contribute to the development of marketing and segmentation theories relating the performing arts industry, and provide guidelines for boosting the industry. Further studies are needed to compare between Seoul area and other geographic areas, between experienced and non-experienced.