The Reunion Era: Why Are Bands Getting Back Together All of a Sudden?

After years of rumours, the Gallagher brothers have finally put their differences aside. Their 14-year-long feud seemed it would never end. But it asks whether reunion tours are out of love or a financial decision. 

There is money in reunion tours, that is guaranteed. Fans, who were once young with no money have now grown up. They can make their own financial decisions and many can afford it too. It seems like a no-brainer to come back together for nostalgia’s sake. Especially in the new streaming age where musicians make little to no money. 

It seems that the years since COVID have sparked a whole new obsession with reunion tours. Since live music has returned, so have our old favourite bands. My Chemical Romance, The Eagles, and even ABBA. 

But how do these bands weave their way into the current culture? And how do they preserve their audiences once the immediate excitement and nostalgia has worn off? 

It must be hard to return ten or twenty years later to an audience that has since moved on and grown out of the music of their youth, choosing to spend money on newer artists instead. How does a 30-year-old band compete with the latest shiny band that everyone loves? 

The Secret Ingredient

Well to start, the new band do not have the legacy or status that few achieve. These are key ingredients to a successful reunion tour. 

The most successful comebacks are from bands that have impacted the culture. Bands that either defined the era they introduced themselves in, or added to music history. 

Oasis and Blur are prime examples of successful reunions. Their rivalry defined the ’90s and popularised the genre of britpop. An indie subcategory that the British music industry would be lost without. 

They were the two most successful bands of their time and raised thousands of teenagers-turned-dads. These men now pass on the legacy to their kids. In the early 2000s you were either raised as an Oasis or Blur fan, very rarely could you be both. 

Last year, marked Blur’s second reunion. The band hadn’t performed together since their 2015 gig in Hyde Park. They kicked off with a pre-victory lap of the UK. Including their hometown, Colchester, before their first Wembley Stadium show ever. 

As well as sold-out shows, the band released their first album in seven years. The Ballad of Darren was their seventh No. 1 in the UK and their first Top 10 album in the US. 

So, there is a market… and if done right a reunion tour can lead to a whole new life for a band. But are old bands always welcomed back with open arms? 

Is Reuniting Always a Good Idea?

In the UK, many groups from the ’90s and 2000s have reunited. Most, not successfully. Teenage boybands and girlbands in their 30s or 40s are no longer desired. Like Cheryl famously said “Imagine thirty-odd year old, I’m just a love machine. Nah. No thanks” 

One group whose reunion didn’t make much noise was the Sugababes. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 and had three different lineups. Members would leave and silently be replaced to keep the Sugababes name alive. 

However, they never really broke up. They faded into the background. Either because they couldn’t keep up with the trends or new groups. The original lineup reunited in 2011 but under a different name, Mutya Keisha Siobhan. A bit of a mouthful. 

After little success, they reclaimed their old title Sugababes and have been together since. However, there was not much fanfare with their reunion. Unlike their competitors, Girls Aloud. 

Both groups had anniversary tours this year but one greatly outsold the other.

The Power of a Reunion

Girls Aloud were the “It” group of the early 2000s. They were one of the UK’s best-selling girl groups, with hits like ‘The Promise’ and ‘Sound of the Underground.’ 

Girls Aloud (like most bands) fell apart due to creative differences and arguments, which resulted in each of the five members going solo. This year marked their second reunion and was the biggest UK arena tour of 2024. 

The Girls Aloud Show was originally planned for 2021, but one of the members got diagnosed with breast cancer. Sadly, Sarah Harding died that year, but the group returned in her honour. The tour continued as a dedication to Sarah’s life. 

Cheryl told The Independent, “It’s the right time to celebrate Sarah, the right time to celebrate the band, and the right time to celebrate the fact we can still do this over 20 years later.” 

Most bands, like Girls Aloud, come back for a special anniversary. But for some, the cheque is the only reason

How Streaming has Affected Musicians

In the streaming age musicians no longer make money from their music. Tapes and CDs were once the main income and something that they could rely on. Touring was an added extra or a promotional tool. But the shift from physical to digital media has killed the industry and the band’s wallet. 

Now artists make virtually no money from their music. Spotify pays artists between $0.003 – $0.005 per stream. That is then split between the artist and Spotify themselves. It is no surprise that old bands are returning to touring. 

Especially if they will make £50 million, the rumoured price of the Oasis reunion

But it’s not just Oasis making a buck. In 2011, Take That brought in an estimated £140 million. The last Spice Girls tour brought in an estimated £60 million and was only 13 dates long. 

Some bands don’t even have to tour to cash in on a reunion. The hologram show, ABBA Voyage, is making a rumoured £1.5 million each week. 

Touring is an easy way for an old band to make money, without making new music. If they have enough hits they can rely on their old music. Cover it up as a nostalgia or anniversary tour. 

If the fans are willing to pay and beg for a reunion. They will get one. Overall, everyone is happy with a reunion tour. Fans, new and old, get to hear their favourite songs live. The bands make a small fortune. 

If you have the legacy and the hits, there are no cons to working it out on the remix.