SPACE FOR MUSIC ON LATE-NIGHT TV HAS DWINDLED. NEW MEDIA SEEKS TO OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE

According to the Associated Press, a photo released by NBC shows singer‑songwriter Phoebe Bridgers performing on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in New York on July 14, 2026. The image highlights the shrinking space for live music on late‑night television after CBS shut down "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" earlier this year and the subsequent decline of music segments on other major networks.

The AP report notes that when CBS ended the program, its robust music offerings were also eliminated, removing a key platform that had historically helped musicians reach new audiences – from rising acts like Chappell Roan to classics such as The Beatles on "The Ed Sullivan Show." James Corden’s departure from CBS’s "The Late Late Show" in 2023 left that show’s performance space unfilled, and NBC’s "Late Night With Seth Meyers" has cut back on live music while ABC’s "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" limits performances to twice a week. The only program still consistently booking live acts is Fallon’s Tonight Show. Emerging artists, who have historically valued these appearances, are now looking toward nascent online programming as a potential alternative.

Late‑night television has long served as a unique venue for musicians to gain exposure, a role that is increasingly threatened as networks reduce or eliminate music segments. The contraction reflects broader changes in how audiences consume music and how artists seek new platforms.

• CBS’s cancellation of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" ended its extensive music programming.
• Other networks have reduced live music: "Late Night With Seth Meyers" cuts back, and "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" now hosts performances only twice weekly.
• Phoebe Bridgers’ July 2026 performance on Fallon’s Tonight Show is one of the few remaining live‑music slots, prompting artists to explore online alternatives.

Read the original source for full detail available at Associated Press src