T in the Park’s absence from next year’s summer schedule has been greeted with a mixed response from Perthshire businesses.
Locals in the Auchterarder area, near the festival’s Strathallan Castle home, say they will miss the annual boost it delivers to the area’s economy.
But traders claim the show drives away as many customers as it brings in.
Council bosses also believe the loss of the festival could actually help other events in Perthshire to flourish.
Festival chief Geoff Ellis confirmed on Thursday that the iconic show was “unlikely” to go ahead next year.
T in the Park was put on hold this summer after a spate of problems at its new Strathallan Castle home.
Mr Ellis also said that DF Concerts would also consider other sites.
He told BBC Scotland: “The planning constraints are just so complex and costly at Strathallan that we’re just not in a position to say: Yes, we will continue.”
Carol Wood, who chairs the Auchterarder Community Partnership, said: “We’re hearing a mixed response from businesses in the area.
“At the end of the day, it does bring in trade to the town over the weekend, but there are an awful lot of people who will stay away from the area as well.
“Generally, folk are very disappointed though.”
The festival is said to generate about £3 million for Perthshire.
Councillor Murray Lyle added: “The benefits this festival brings to the local economy will be missed.
“However, there are certain types of outlets – food shops, hotels and bars – which always do better than others during the weekend of the festival.
“Many shops in Auchterarder actually report a downturn in trade when T in the Park is on.”
He said he would gladly welcome the show back in the future.
“When they got their act together, it was a great success and I would definitely like to see T in the Park back in Perthshire.”
A spokeswoman for Perth and Kinross Council said: “T in the Park was one of the first major events to recognise the potential the Perth and Kinross area has as a venue for big events.
“While this is clearly disappointing news, we will continue to work closely with the organisers of other events who are keen to grow the audiences they bring to the area and to build upon our own successful seasonal events programme.”
T in the Park moved to Strathallan Castle in 2015, but the event was plagued with traffic problems, as well as concerns about nesting ospreys on the site.
Although organisers appeared to get on top of the outstanding issues last year, the weekend was overshadowed by the drug-related deaths of three people, triggering calls for heightened security.
Mr Ellis said if T in the Park – or a similar camping festival – did return, it would probably be for over 18s only.