Publications
Publications
- October 2016 (Revised July 2017)
- HBS Case Collection
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra: Cultural Entrepreneurship
By: Rohit Deshpande and Annelena Lobb
Abstract
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (LA Phil), under the leadership of Deborah Borda, had enjoyed great successes in the 2000s and 2010s, even as other U.S. orchestras faltered. The architecturally acclaimed Walt Disney Concert Hall had opened its doors. The institution's finances looked healthy after years of operating losses. A celebrity music director, Gustavo Dudamel, had joined the team. The LA Phil had launched its Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA), a classical-music outreach program. Yet the LA Phil still faced real challenges, as all U.S. orchestras did--an aging subscriber base, concern around appeal to younger audiences, and development of a pipeline of donors for the future. How could Borda continue to position the orchestra for success?
Keywords
Product Positioning; Arts; Music Entertainment; Growth and Development Strategy; Business Growth and Maturation; Cultural Entrepreneurship; Music Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Los Angeles
Citation
Deshpande, Rohit, and Annelena Lobb. "The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra: Cultural Entrepreneurship." Harvard Business School Case 517-006, October 2016. (Revised July 2017.)