Rodeo tradition vs. entertainment value

After a hundred years, one brass-filled tradition is no more.

The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo will end live music at its rodeo and use recorded music instead.

Many rodeo spectators are understandably angry at the development. Change is a hard pill to swallow when live music has been ingrained in the rodeo’s history, and it seems to be working.

Last year, the Stock Show and Rodeo broke its attendance record.

But rodeos are already steeped in tradition, so modernizing one aspect of the event won’t dull the experience. It will most likely enhance it.

“In the last decade, the usefulness of digitally produced music has played an increasingly important role in creating a more engaging rodeo performance,” says the FWSSR 2016 Summer Newsletter.

Events have to find that line between tradition and entertainment value, and with the music money freed up for other uses, the rodeo production team can try new things to freshen the spectacle.

“The goal is to maximize everything in the rodeo production toolbox to create something fun for all age groups,” the newsletter says.

The rodeo needs to wrangle its future entertainment value without losing its heart. Ditching the band might be the best way to do that.

This story was originally published July 19, 2016 at 4:57 PM with the headline "Rodeo tradition vs. entertainment value."