The music scene in Abilene is alive, but ill.

Upon arriving in Abilene, students hailing from larger cities with flourishing music scenes are generally shocked at the sparse selection of live music here.

For those that don’t want to listen to the live background music of Lucky Mule Saloon or Midnight Rodeo, there are few options outside of an occasional Monk’s show and Rose Park’s dwindling hardcore scene. Combining all venues, students are lucky if they can find one decent show every two months to check out.

So why is it so hard to find a show around here?

There are a handful of notable bands and artists that have come out of Abilene: the Rocketboys, Close Your Eyes, the Light Parade and Aaron Watson. It’s even the home to the legendary Happy Fat. So shouldn’t more music be available here?

A reoccurring problem I have seen over the years that contributes to decreased future shows is poor attendance at past shows. It’s discouraging to the people that are willing and able to put together a show when no one attends. In an industry that survives on live performances, attendance is crucial in facilitating growth.

But it isn’t just Abilene that is to blame, lack of attendance at live performances is plaguing the nation. A handful of Christian music festivals that have been running for decades set up their tents for one final year this summer before calling it quits, while other festivals suffered from all-time low attendance.

Touring bands, especially smaller ones, have had to re-route to smaller venues and dozens upon dozens of tours were cut short or called off due to lack of turnout and the inability of the venues to pay them.

With many band’s record sales coming in rather low and tours flopping, is it correct to assume that the music industry is dying a slow death? No! More music is being produced today than ever before.

So, what keeps students in this day and age trapped in the comfort of their dorm rooms instead of out exploring the select few things Abilene has to offer?

First, a problem shared with all of America: students have a plethora of entertainment at their fingertips. Not only can they download music and view concert footage from the comforts of their dorm room, but they can Instagram stalk their favorite bands and feel as if they are heavily involved as a fan without having to get in their car and dish out $15 at the door.

Many assume that the economy and tight finances account for the decline in attendance as well. However, in a study posted on Forbes, it was predicted that, as people have less and less available money in their expendable income, they will begin using a greater percentage of their money on experiences and less money on manufactured products. So, it is all a matter of personal preference and what experiences each student is choosing to have.

Perhaps it all comes down to festering attitudes of low expectations. People don’t usually come to Abilene expecting to be blown away with a thriving music scene, so maybe when they hear about events, they don’t even bother checking them out for fear they will be a flop.

Regardless, Abilene is missing out on opportunities left and right to cultivate its own music scene. Despite Abilene’s medium-sized population, it could still be a decent stop for touring bands. For bands touring through Texas, Abilene is often looked at as part of the tour routing because of its convenient location between Dallas and cities further west that have already been booked. Many booking agencies, however, end up discouraged by the lack of venues and the poor projections for turnout. So, they skip over it entirely or opt for the bands to take a day off instead of trying to arrange a show here.

So, here is my challenge. The year is off to a fresh start. Get out, enjoy the world, live life, engage in fellowship and, please, help revive the Abilene music scene.