Tribute bands, groups that recreate the music of iconic artists, are drawing growing crowds across France, according to a report by journalist Sandra Marconi broadcast on Tuesday, September 15. Fans of ABBA, Michael Jackson and Queen have been turning out in large numbers for these homage shows.
Marconi said the number of tribute bands paying homage to a single artist or group has been rising steadily, and that the acts are enjoying enormous success in France.
Richard Walter, a producer who specializes in tribute bands, said the trend shows no sign of slowing down. He said four or five major touring acts, comparable to the Rolling Stones, are likely to stop performing within the next five or six years. Walter said those bands may have around 50 million fans between them, and that those fans will not turn to artists such as Jul or Gims instead. He said they simply want to hear the music of the groups they grew up with.
Walter said he sold 700,000 tickets for tribute band shows in 2025 alone.
The Goldmen pay homage to Jean-Jacques Goldman
Among the acts riding the trend is Goldmen, a band that performs the repertoire of Jean-Jacques Goldman, one of France's best-known singer-songwriters. The group's frontman has gone as far as physically altering his appearance to resemble Goldman, the original performer of the hit song "Quand la musique est bonne."
Alain Stevez, the singer, told the French news channel LCI that audiences want to see the long-haired Jean-Jacques Goldman on stage, and that he makes every effort to give them that.
The Rolling Stones, cited by Walter as an example of a band nearing the end of its touring life, are a British rock group formed in the 1960s. Jul and Gims are among France's most popular contemporary rappers.
