Late-night TV shows used to be a typical showcase for established and emerging musical talent. Just as the rest of the television landscape has changed, however, that has changed as well. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Jimmy Kimmel Live! now plans to limit appearances by musical guests to just two per week.
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No reason has been given for the shake-up. The ABC show is reportedly going to stay at the same length. Other renowned late-night staples, such as The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and Late Night With Seth Meyers, have also had fewer musical performances.
There Has Been a Late-Night TV Trend Towards Fewer Musical Bookings
Per the website Consequence, it seems that late-night TV shows are no longer featuring music the way they once routinely did. The outlet attributed that to a few things. For example, two years ago, Seth Meyers' show was stripped of its house band due to budget cuts. Also, there are simply fewer late-night shows on the air. James Corden and Conan O'Brien both vanished; other late-night shows are usually airing repeats on Fridays.
The outlet also points out an interesting music-related fact about the late-night TV space: "In 2023, the total number of [musical] bookings barely crested the 200 mark."
People Don't Seem To Watch Late-Night TV the Way They Used To
The public's TV-watching habits have undergone dramatic changes as well. One expert in the field of music studies, Alyxandra Vesey, said per the outlet that, "People don't watch late-night broadcast network television regularly anymore, especially young people, who will most likely watch and share live moments after the fact on social media."
Two People Who Do Bookings for 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' Affirmed the Show's Commitment to Music Less Than a Year Ago
The Consequence article, which is dated April 10, 2025, mentions two people who book musical talent for Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Jim Pitt and Mac Burrus both said just months ago that the show was still prioritizing music, led by its host. Something evidently shifted since then.
Pitt shared, "?I think Colbert is down to one a week, and Seth is not doing music anymore. Mac and I, because it's our department, feel very fortunate that Jimmy is such a supporter in the music space." Burrus echoed that sentiment. "Music has been a priority at 'Jimmy Kimmel' from day one," said Burrus. "He's always championed late night in its classic form, being a huge fan of Letterman."
