{"id":2054427,"date":"2026-07-21T19:00:48","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T16:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2054427"},"modified":"2026-07-21T19:00:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T16:00:48","slug":"the-underplay-is-pops-newest-power-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2054427","title":{"rendered":"The Underplay Is Pop\u2019s Newest Power Move"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NBC\/NBCUniversal\/Getty Images; Joseph Okpako\/WireImage\/Getty Images; Astrida Valigorsky\/Getty Images Entertainment\/Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n

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Music<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Underplay Is Pop\u2019s Newest Power Move<\/h1>\n
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Think big. Play small.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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by Jillian Giandurco<\/a><\/address>\n
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Catching your favorite artist on the festival main stage<\/a> amongst tens of thousands of other fans is fun and all, but nothing beats seeing your fave play a room that\u2019s barely bigger than the size of your apartment. Concerts like these are called underplays<\/em>, and the idea is to get major artists performing in venues much smaller than they normally play. In theory, the underplay is a great way for artists to connect with their fans on an intimate level, but recently they\u2019ve become just another move in the pop-girl playbook.<\/p>\n

Phoebe Bridgers<\/a> kicked off the underplay craze this spring, when the \u201cMotion Sickness\u201d singer began playing last-minute pop-up shows<\/a> in small venues around the country. The no-phones-allowed policy<\/a> at the live shows helped preserve the spirit of the underplay \u2014 that is, until the concert series came to a rousing conclusion with a final show at Madison Square Garden, an arena that can seat up to 22,000 people.<\/p>\n

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Following Bridgers\u2019 successful run of shows, we\u2019ve seen an influx of underplays popping up around the world, almost as if pop stars are competing to see who can play the smallest venue. Charli xcx<\/a> brought her forthcoming album Music, Fashion, Film<\/em><\/a> to Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn (which has a capacity of 650) and Scala in London (capacity: 1,145) while Gracie Abrams<\/a> debuted her new record Daughter From Hell<\/em><\/a> at New York City\u2019s Bowery Ballroom (capacity: 575) just a few days later. Ryan Beatty might have both of them beat, though, having just played his new album, Sweet Fortune<\/em>, for the first time at Night Club 101 in the East Village in front of roughly 200 people. He\u2019s also got another show at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever next week, where he\u2019ll play to a room of about 150.<\/p>\n

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The latest artist in a line of underplay announcements is Role Model<\/a>, who is scheduled to play a \u201csecret\u201d show at Chicago\u2019s Thalia Hall on July 30 under his new Chuck Timely moniker. While the venue can hold up to 900 people (considerably large for an underplay) the famed opera house is a sizable step down for Mr. Timely who is booked to play venues like Radio City Music Hall on his upcoming tour this fall.<\/p>\n

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Considering everyone and their mother decided to drop an album this summer, it makes sense why we\u2019ve seen so many artists following the same formula recently. Yes, the underplay is just another marketing tool to drum up excitement for new music, but it also creates lasting memories for a lucky few fans while reconnecting top-tier talent to spaces that they\u2019ve outgrown or have never had the chance to play. It\u2019s a win-win for everyone \u2014 minus the fans who aren\u2019t able to get tickets.<\/p>\n