The Chicago Tribune looks at the rise of the European-style rock festival in the U.S. There ‘s now a full dozen of what the paper calls “supersize” concerts. Key point: their effect on the normal concert scene:

Jerry Mickelson, founder and partner of Jam Productions, understands the appeal of music festivals, but companies such as his, which owns Chicago venues including the Riviera and Park West, are on the losing end. The contracts between festival organizers and bands contain “radius” clauses that prevent musicians from playing within a certain radius of the event and within a certain time period before and after it.

“What it does to the local concert scene is it destroys it,” Mickelson said. “We’re all in the same boat, we all have more dark nights. You can’t make and manufacture a band. There’s X amount of music out there that tours each year.”

Will the rise of such fests turn out to be the iPod Store of the concert scene, allowing fans to sup at a smorgasbord-like array of hot acts once or twice a year, and leave the traditional (high-priced) concert behind, just as they have with CDs? Doubtful: For one, the bands won’t have it. No one would give up the huge touring income for a few fest dates. Also, the worst effects are going to be in a place like Chicago, already home to Lollapalooza and Pitchfork. The other fests end to be in rural areas.

Besides the now established Lollapalooza, Coachella, Bonnaro and Pitchfork, the paper notes there are new ones every year:

The industry’s new entrants this year are Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco Aug. 22-24, headlined by Beck, Wilco, Radiohead and Tom Petty; Mile High Music Festival July 19-20 in Commerce City, Colo., with the Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer and Tom Petty; All Points West Music & Arts Festival Aug. 8-10 in Jersey City, headlined by Radiohead and Jack Johnson; and Rothbury Festival, in Rothbury, Mich., July 3-6, with Matthews, Mayer and Widespread Panic.

Tickets for this year’s Lollapalooza are $205; Pitchfork, which stresses younger bands and tries to keep prices low, are $65, up from $50 last year.