I'm not a performer myself (don't say a chuffing word), but would think that live performances and new material/studio recordings pretty much go hand in hand.
Reviews of Gingers' performances especially, suggest that he bounces off the audience's reaction - which I think is safe to assume will inspire, influence, and encourage, his song writing.
Writing without live performances would only leave record sales as an indicatior of both success and as a line of encouragement; but if it's the B Side the fans go mad for, or have, um, "file shared" then this isn't a true result either. Knowing the reactions' they (he?) is able to provoke must lead to the thoughts that, "I can't wait till they see / play this one live - they'll love it".
Just my two penneth.