It’s still happening. Artists are still way out of touch with their fan base. In some cases, they’ve signed a contract and have been given a ton of money, so they have little to no control over ticket prices. It’s the new record industry. Now it’s up to the corporate suits to determine the price of a concert, not the band and certainly not the fans.
One of the reasons that fans started stealing albums online was because of price. They couldn’t afford to pay $13 - $19 per album. I’m not saying that’s right, I’m saying that’s why it happened. And now, the same thing is happening with concerts. Only, the fans aren’t stealing concert tickets, they’ve just decided to not attend the shows. Who is hurt the most in the end? The artist is going to take the blame. The fans will hold them responsible justly or not. It’s their name on the marquee, not Live Nation’s. This results in fewer sold out shows, fewer performances in each city, and an overall general distaste in the minds of the fans.
Here’s a perfect example. I am a huge Bon Jovi fan. I love the band, love their songs, love them in concert. They are currently touring (starting in February) behind a greatest hits record. That means the tour is going to be chock full of nothing but the best songs! And the greatest hits album has 4 brand new songs on it. This is a disc that should already be in my collection. But it’s not. Because when I saw the ticket prices for their local concerts ($55 - $154) I told myself there was no way I was going to attend that show. And since I wasn’t going to the concert, there was no need for me to purchase their greatest hits album. Now the band just lost two sales – all due to corporate greed.
Yes, I know there are seats available at $30. That’s the joke. There’s only a few hundred of them (if that many), and they are not good seats. If I want a halfway decent seat to a good seat, I have to pay $55 to $300. Three hundred dollars? Are you serious? I can remember when all the ticket prices were the same and everyone had an equally fair shot of getting floor seats. I also remember standing in line to get those tickets. Times have changed and the internet has really changed the way ticket business is done. But $300 for a floor seat is ridiculous. And if you are worried about the scalpers buying them and selling them at that price anyway, then only offer Will Call for the floor seats. Or offer them to fan club members only. Or do something that will deter the scalpers in the first place.
Unfortunately, that will never happen. Not as long as greedy pigs like Irving Azoff are still in the picture. Their bottom line is money. Screw the fans! To me, that’s good news for the clubs like Starland Ballroom and the Wellmont Theatre. Tickets to shows at those venues are still affordable. Here is a list of some recent tours and their ticket prices. Note ALL of these prices are prior to any fees (which can add an additional $25 - $35 per ticket).
Prince – ranges between $27 - $173 with most tickets costing $111 or higher
Bon Jovi – ranges between $29.50 - $304.50 with most seats falling between $55 - $154
U2 – ranges between $30 - $250 with very few seats available at $30
John Mellencamp - $61, $148
Carrie Underwood - $45 - $67
Furthur - $50 - $70
Phish - $70
Kings Of Leon - $71
Hinder - $30
Notice the affordability of the Hinder tickets? That’s because they are touring clubs and haven’t been swooned by the corporate promoters yet. Give it time. The more popular Hinder becomes, the more likely they are to get a million dollar contract offer. And I couldn’t blame them for taking it. That would just mean I wouldn’t be seeing them in concert anymore. That’s the sad fact of the current ticket pricing structure. Corporate greed has hurt the music fan again. I see it every time I notice OAR ticket prices creeping up. Every year, the prices are a few dollars higher than the year before. Eventually, they will be another band off my list. It’s a shame and the ticket brokers ought to be ashamed.
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
Showing posts with label Live Nation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Live Nation. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Irving Azoff Needs To Shut His Mouth
After recently joining the ranks of Twitter, Irving Azoff, the Executive Chariman of Live Nation Entertainment posted this very unintelligent comment: “If you want ticket prices to go down, stop stealing music.” What an ass! Now, I can’t speak for everyone, but I can certainly speak on my own behalf. I don’t steal music and I encourage others to buy the music they are listening to as well. With that being said, “stolen” music isn’t the reason ticket prices are so high, and Azoff and everyone else in the industry knows this. No, Irving, if we want ticket prices to go down, you shouldn’t be giving these artists guaranteed contracts worth millions of dollars. It’s the same reason that live sporting events are so expensive now, guaranteed money.
Ignorant, insensitive comments such as “stop stealing music” are the reason that CEOs like Irving Azoff are hated in the industry by real music fans. He is light years away from the reality of this situation. His comment boils down to this (in its most simplistic form) if no one illegally downloaded music, ticket prices would drop to an affordable level. So, Mr. Azoff, you’re telling me that front row seats would now be sold for $20/ticket? Sorry, I don’t believe you.
As for people “stealing” music, that is a blanket statement for you to hide behind, because you know that the end results can never be tangibly measured. So here’s a nice counter-proposal: if you want people to stop “stealing” music, then lower the price of the albums. If a CD costs $10-$13 in a store, fully packaged with linear notes and a jewel case, then it should cost half of that online. There’s no packaging to pay for, there’s no storage fee to pay, there’s no shipping cost. Yet, greedy CEOs, much like yourself, refuse to lower the price because they can’t fathom lowering the price on anything. It would hurt their pride too much and they would feel like they are going against the corporate model. Yet, simple macro economics of supply and demand states that this is the time to lower your prices. Concerts, merchandise, albums, and even concessions should be lowered to affordable levels. Instead, the corporate greed of the Irving Azoff’s of the world have forced true fans to decide which concert they will see this season, instead of deciding which group of concerts they will see this season.
Back to the opening of this post; the stealing comment made by Mr. Azoff. Where is the statistical evidence that backs that statement up? How much money are you “losing” every year by people “stealing” music, and how does that directly translate into savings at a concert? Perhaps if you would take the time to show us the math and provide us with empirical evidence that you aren’t lying instead of joining twitter and posting ignorant tweets such as “if you want ticket prices to go down, stop stealing music,” you would see some positive results. My counter to your ignorant comment is this, if you want your concerts to sell out, then lower your ticket prices.
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
Ignorant, insensitive comments such as “stop stealing music” are the reason that CEOs like Irving Azoff are hated in the industry by real music fans. He is light years away from the reality of this situation. His comment boils down to this (in its most simplistic form) if no one illegally downloaded music, ticket prices would drop to an affordable level. So, Mr. Azoff, you’re telling me that front row seats would now be sold for $20/ticket? Sorry, I don’t believe you.
As for people “stealing” music, that is a blanket statement for you to hide behind, because you know that the end results can never be tangibly measured. So here’s a nice counter-proposal: if you want people to stop “stealing” music, then lower the price of the albums. If a CD costs $10-$13 in a store, fully packaged with linear notes and a jewel case, then it should cost half of that online. There’s no packaging to pay for, there’s no storage fee to pay, there’s no shipping cost. Yet, greedy CEOs, much like yourself, refuse to lower the price because they can’t fathom lowering the price on anything. It would hurt their pride too much and they would feel like they are going against the corporate model. Yet, simple macro economics of supply and demand states that this is the time to lower your prices. Concerts, merchandise, albums, and even concessions should be lowered to affordable levels. Instead, the corporate greed of the Irving Azoff’s of the world have forced true fans to decide which concert they will see this season, instead of deciding which group of concerts they will see this season.
Back to the opening of this post; the stealing comment made by Mr. Azoff. Where is the statistical evidence that backs that statement up? How much money are you “losing” every year by people “stealing” music, and how does that directly translate into savings at a concert? Perhaps if you would take the time to show us the math and provide us with empirical evidence that you aren’t lying instead of joining twitter and posting ignorant tweets such as “if you want ticket prices to go down, stop stealing music,” you would see some positive results. My counter to your ignorant comment is this, if you want your concerts to sell out, then lower your ticket prices.
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Live Nation Announces No Fee June
Live Nation has announced No Service Fee Tickets for the month June. Log onto www.livenation.com and select tickets for certain bands (which is most of them) and get your tickets with no additional fees. Cousin Ryo bought his KISS tickets this way, and there was no extra charge!
If you were thinking about seeing a show this summer, whether it's Dave Matthews Band, Iron Maiden, Kiss, or any other concert that Live Nation is supporting, now is the time to get your tickets! No Service Fee will be available during the entire month of June, but only while ticket supplies last. Log on, log in, and grab your tickets!
No fees means a happier Cousin Ryo. What do you think?
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Live Nation Ticketmaster Merger Is Bad News For The Fan
By now I’m sure you know the merger is official. Live Nation and Ticketmaster were given approval by the US Justice Department on January 25th to merge into the world’s largest (and basically only) ticket seller and concert promoter. The new company name is Live Nation Entertainment. You can expect to hear a lot of complaints about that company in future posts.
What does all of this mean for the fan? Well, for starters, it means goodbye to the little guy. There will never be another company that comes around to create a fair marketplace, because Ticketmaster will just buy them. I really thought that when Live Nation started selling tickets last year that there would finally be a little competition in the market place and the ridiculous ticketing fees would go away. Not so much. Instead, a year later, they are going to become the same company and the fees will live on.
In a recent Rolling Stone article (Issue 1098) Irving Azoff (lead villain of Ticketmaster and head of the entire merger) said that this merger is good for everyone as it will fix inefficiencies in the system and allow them opportunity to test ticket price ranges. For an upcoming Eagles concert tour, he wants to range the tickets from $30 - $250. Azoff actually believes that is a good rate. What?
First, $30 is a bit too high to sit in seats that are all the way at the top of the arena. And if it was ONLY $30, perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad, but on top of that initial $30, there’s going to be another $17 in fees (so now we’re at $47) and then there’s parking (add another $15). That $30 ticket just cost me $62…for one ticket.
Azoff needs to take his head out of his ass and wake up to reality. The artists that go along with this (U2, The Eagles, Bon Jovi, and more – yeah I’m talking to all of you) also need to stop drinking the Kool Aid. Fans are sick and tired of paying “convenience fees” and any other fee that that Ticketmaster can think to add on. Does ANYONE realize that if the fans decided to boycott just one tour, that artists (and their promoter) would take a huge hit? How about we price all the tickets at $30 and give the REAL fans a fighting chance to sit in a good seat without having to take out a small bank loan.
I would love to have an opportunity to interview Mr. Azoff. Does he really live in that rose colored glass house? He can’t honestly believe the crap that he’s shoveling. This merger will be better for no one but him and his (new) partner, Live Nation’s Michael Rapino. And again, we the fans are left holding the bag.
What are we going to do? Boycott seeing Dave Matthews this summer? Not on your life. So, I (along with everyone else) will have to bend (over) to the will of the evil corporation. It’s like taking care of the roadie to get backstage to see the band. I’ll feel disgusting while doing it, but once I’m with the band, all will be right with the world.
What are your thoughts? Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
What does all of this mean for the fan? Well, for starters, it means goodbye to the little guy. There will never be another company that comes around to create a fair marketplace, because Ticketmaster will just buy them. I really thought that when Live Nation started selling tickets last year that there would finally be a little competition in the market place and the ridiculous ticketing fees would go away. Not so much. Instead, a year later, they are going to become the same company and the fees will live on.
In a recent Rolling Stone article (Issue 1098) Irving Azoff (lead villain of Ticketmaster and head of the entire merger) said that this merger is good for everyone as it will fix inefficiencies in the system and allow them opportunity to test ticket price ranges. For an upcoming Eagles concert tour, he wants to range the tickets from $30 - $250. Azoff actually believes that is a good rate. What?
First, $30 is a bit too high to sit in seats that are all the way at the top of the arena. And if it was ONLY $30, perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad, but on top of that initial $30, there’s going to be another $17 in fees (so now we’re at $47) and then there’s parking (add another $15). That $30 ticket just cost me $62…for one ticket.
Azoff needs to take his head out of his ass and wake up to reality. The artists that go along with this (U2, The Eagles, Bon Jovi, and more – yeah I’m talking to all of you) also need to stop drinking the Kool Aid. Fans are sick and tired of paying “convenience fees” and any other fee that that Ticketmaster can think to add on. Does ANYONE realize that if the fans decided to boycott just one tour, that artists (and their promoter) would take a huge hit? How about we price all the tickets at $30 and give the REAL fans a fighting chance to sit in a good seat without having to take out a small bank loan.
I would love to have an opportunity to interview Mr. Azoff. Does he really live in that rose colored glass house? He can’t honestly believe the crap that he’s shoveling. This merger will be better for no one but him and his (new) partner, Live Nation’s Michael Rapino. And again, we the fans are left holding the bag.
What are we going to do? Boycott seeing Dave Matthews this summer? Not on your life. So, I (along with everyone else) will have to bend (over) to the will of the evil corporation. It’s like taking care of the roadie to get backstage to see the band. I’ll feel disgusting while doing it, but once I’m with the band, all will be right with the world.
What are your thoughts? Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
What's A Fair Price?
"Yes! You lemmings! Give me your money!"
The New Year is here and (believe it or not) before you know it, spring will be upon us, bringing with it the spring concert season. As with every concert season, your cousin Ryo wonders how much the Ticketmaster fees will hurt this year. As you know from a previous post I’m not a big fan of Ticketmaster or their fees. However, I do understand they are a business and they need to make a profit like any legitimate business. So, this led me to ask myself a question…what is a reasonable fee amount to pay in order to purchase a ticket through Ticketmaster?
Currently the Ticketmaster fees are set up as follows:
• A facility fee that presumably goes back to the venue hosting the event
• An order processing fee, for processing and confirming your order
• A convenience charge for allowing the consumer the convenience of ordering tickets online. This is paid even when there is no other option than to order tickets online.
• A delivery charge is included if you print tickets yourself (never understood this) or if you have your tickets delivered in any way other than the US Postal system.
These fees tend to vary in rate depending on prices, but the average cost is as follows:
Facility fee - $3.oo
Order Processing Fee - $4.00
Convenience Fee - $10.00
Delivery Fee – Ranges between $3.00 and $20.00 depending on how tickets are sent
Obviously, this is an overzealous amount to charge fans for their services, especially when they are already charging fee to the performers. So, what would be fair?
First, the fee should be a flat, set amount for all events as opposed to the sliding scale, and this should be disclosed up front where it is easy for all to see. Realize this; if Ticketmaster charges a dollar per ticket to an event where 13,000 tickets are sold, then Ticketmaster makes $13,000 – for one show! If that artist performs 40 shows during a tour, Ticketmaster would make $520,000 – from one performer’s tour. Does anyone have any idea how many performers there are in Ticketmaster’s stable? Me neither, but I know it’s a lot. And that doesn’t even include the sporting and other events that go through Ticketmaster.
Now, Ticketmaster would never charge just one dollar for fees, not even in my fantasy scenario, but using this example, we can see how much money Ticketmaster makes on every concert. In order to make things fair for the end consumer, cousin Ryo suggests no more than $10 per ticket be charged in fees, with a preference of $7. At $10/ticket, using the same example as from before, Ticketmaster would make $5.2 Million. That’s a ton of money for them, and a reasonable fee for the fans. It’s almost (dare I say it?) a win-win situation.
What do you think? Is this a fair enough price to pay in fees? Would Ticketmaster ever consider a fee plan like this? Would you pay it?
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
Currently the Ticketmaster fees are set up as follows:
• A facility fee that presumably goes back to the venue hosting the event
• An order processing fee, for processing and confirming your order
• A convenience charge for allowing the consumer the convenience of ordering tickets online. This is paid even when there is no other option than to order tickets online.
• A delivery charge is included if you print tickets yourself (never understood this) or if you have your tickets delivered in any way other than the US Postal system.
These fees tend to vary in rate depending on prices, but the average cost is as follows:
Facility fee - $3.oo
Order Processing Fee - $4.00
Convenience Fee - $10.00
Delivery Fee – Ranges between $3.00 and $20.00 depending on how tickets are sent
Obviously, this is an overzealous amount to charge fans for their services, especially when they are already charging fee to the performers. So, what would be fair?
First, the fee should be a flat, set amount for all events as opposed to the sliding scale, and this should be disclosed up front where it is easy for all to see. Realize this; if Ticketmaster charges a dollar per ticket to an event where 13,000 tickets are sold, then Ticketmaster makes $13,000 – for one show! If that artist performs 40 shows during a tour, Ticketmaster would make $520,000 – from one performer’s tour. Does anyone have any idea how many performers there are in Ticketmaster’s stable? Me neither, but I know it’s a lot. And that doesn’t even include the sporting and other events that go through Ticketmaster.
Now, Ticketmaster would never charge just one dollar for fees, not even in my fantasy scenario, but using this example, we can see how much money Ticketmaster makes on every concert. In order to make things fair for the end consumer, cousin Ryo suggests no more than $10 per ticket be charged in fees, with a preference of $7. At $10/ticket, using the same example as from before, Ticketmaster would make $5.2 Million. That’s a ton of money for them, and a reasonable fee for the fans. It’s almost (dare I say it?) a win-win situation.
What do you think? Is this a fair enough price to pay in fees? Would Ticketmaster ever consider a fee plan like this? Would you pay it?
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Ticket Disaster
There’s a new website that popped up recently and it’s starting to gain a lot of attention on the news. Ticketdisaster.org is a new site aimed at informing the consumer about the truths of the upcoming Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger. The site was put together by other ticketing broker agencies, so it’s easy to see what their agenda is, however, the bottom line is true no matter what the agenda – this merger is bad for everyone except Ticketmaster and Live Master.
Anyone who has read this blog more than once knows about my open disliking of Ticketmaster, especially the ridiculous, borderline criminal, fees, s it’s no surprise that I’m all for promoting ticketdisaster.org. Personal feelings aside, let’s review some of the past wrongs that would only get worse with this merger.
Both Ticketmaster and Live Nation block other venues from getting access to major artists, which virtually guarantees that all the major acts will have to go through them to set up concerts and sell tickets. The fees they charge would make a loan shark blush and the way they try to hide them is just wrong. Convenience fees, facility fees, printing fees, parking fees…they fee you to death! The average fan pays $28 in fees per ticket by the time it’s all over!
And just who is getting those plush floor seats? I’ve purchased many a ticket for a concert and I’ve almost never ended up on the floor. And I’m logged in the second tickets go on sale. And yet, there are always a plethora of great seats available on the secondary market for an astronomical price. One of those secondary markets is even owned by Ticketmaster. How is this possible for a fair trade business?
Ticketdisaster.org would like to block the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation and create more competition in the marketplace. This is a step in the right direction, but we’d still be a long way from getting a fair service to buy concert tickets.
Personally, I’d love to see the government step in and regulate the heck out of Ticketmaster, but I know they have bigger issues to concern themselves with (like the economy). Something needs to be done. This monopoly has choked us long enough.
What do you think? Are you for the merger? Against it? Do you just roll over and take the abuse, paying whatever fees you have to? Or, have you found yourself attending more club shows, visiting venues not controlled by Ticketmaster, and even not attending specific concerts, opting for the DVD instead?
Comments are open. I want to hear your thoughts on this one!
For more information visit http://ticketdisaster.org/
Anyone who has read this blog more than once knows about my open disliking of Ticketmaster, especially the ridiculous, borderline criminal, fees, s it’s no surprise that I’m all for promoting ticketdisaster.org. Personal feelings aside, let’s review some of the past wrongs that would only get worse with this merger.
Both Ticketmaster and Live Nation block other venues from getting access to major artists, which virtually guarantees that all the major acts will have to go through them to set up concerts and sell tickets. The fees they charge would make a loan shark blush and the way they try to hide them is just wrong. Convenience fees, facility fees, printing fees, parking fees…they fee you to death! The average fan pays $28 in fees per ticket by the time it’s all over!
And just who is getting those plush floor seats? I’ve purchased many a ticket for a concert and I’ve almost never ended up on the floor. And I’m logged in the second tickets go on sale. And yet, there are always a plethora of great seats available on the secondary market for an astronomical price. One of those secondary markets is even owned by Ticketmaster. How is this possible for a fair trade business?
Ticketdisaster.org would like to block the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation and create more competition in the marketplace. This is a step in the right direction, but we’d still be a long way from getting a fair service to buy concert tickets.
Personally, I’d love to see the government step in and regulate the heck out of Ticketmaster, but I know they have bigger issues to concern themselves with (like the economy). Something needs to be done. This monopoly has choked us long enough.
What do you think? Are you for the merger? Against it? Do you just roll over and take the abuse, paying whatever fees you have to? Or, have you found yourself attending more club shows, visiting venues not controlled by Ticketmaster, and even not attending specific concerts, opting for the DVD instead?
Comments are open. I want to hear your thoughts on this one!
For more information visit http://ticketdisaster.org/
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Summer Concert Wrap Up: Part One
With Memorial Day arriving early this year (May 25th) and Labor Day arriving later than normal (September 7th), this was one of the longest summer concert seasons in a while. Those 15 weeks of concert bliss certainly did not disappoint. While I missed out on some great tours this summer (DMB – saw them in April, Blink 182 – work got in the way, and Def Leppard/Poison/Cheap Trick – cost too much), I was able to see my fair share of great shows.
This summer my concert list was short and sweet. I hit Bruce Springsteen on Memorial Day weekend, Nickelback (with Saving Able, Papa Roach, and Hinder) in July, AC/DC in late July, and Incubus in August. Not a bad set for the summer.
This summer provided many excellent tours and some great bands hit the road.
Blink 182 made a surprise announcement earlier in the year that they were reuniting and going on tour. They did their best to keep ticket prices low and took some great bands out with them including Weezer, Panic at the Disco, and Taking Back Sunday.
Staind unleashed their Stimulate This! tour in an effort to give fans great live music for a low price. Taking Shinedown, Cheville, and Haelstorm on the road with them was a move that certainly helped and delighted hard rock fans nationwide.
Nine Inch Nails said goodbye while Jane’s Addiction said hello. The recently re-reunited Jane’s Addiction teamed up with NIN for a double dose of WOW! Unfortunately, I missed this concert due to family obligations, otherwise I would have been there. Nine Inch Nails declared halfway through the tour that this was the end for them, and there were huge bets on whether Jane’s Addiction would make it to the end (they did). That was a great pairing for an excellent summer tour.
Incubus was without a doubt the biggest surprise of the summer for me. I went to see them on a last minute whim and had no real expectations of what they’d be like. I’ve always enjoyed their music, but never went crazy for the band. After seeing them live, that all changed. Their performance was top notch. Brandon Boyd is an incredible showman and he has an amazing voice. As a front man and lead singer, his was amazing in concert.
AC/DC stormed through the Northeast this summer. While I got to witness them at Giants Stadium, I would not have been able to do so if a special ticket offer did not turn up. Their performance was incredible (as always) and I’m glad that I went to see them, but they need to rethink their ticket prices if they want sellout crowds. $100 for nosebleeds is not a bargain in anyone’s book.
Dave Matthews Band was out on tour in support of their latest release Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King. A consummate touring band, DMB is always on the road every year, and even with the passing of one of their leaders (LeRoi Moore) last summer, they still are out on an extended tour this year. Always a great band to watch, DMB is an enjoyable summer experience, and for some fans, it’s not summer without them.
Phish reunited and went on tour to the delight of millions (as obvious by how quick the tickets sold out). While there were issues getting tickets at first, things eventually worked out when Live Nation decided to stagger the on sale dates of their future shows. The Phish-heads rejoiced and from what I’ve heard, the band is in top form. The band even gave away free downloads to their first three reunion shows.
Judas Priest hit the road taking hard rock veterans Whitesnake with them. They also offered the opening slot to a hot new band, Pop Evil. If you haven’t already checked out their debut album, cousin Ryo highly recommends it. While Whitesnake had to leave the tour at the tail end due to David Coverdale’s throat problems, the reports from people who got to see the full act were nothing but raves. Judas Priest played British Steel in its entirety and Whitesnake hauled out all the expected classics with one or two new songs.
Other notable tours this summer included OAR, Green Day, Nickelback (with Saving Able, Papa Roach, and Hinder), Billy Squire, Toad the Wet Sprocket, the newly reunited Creed, Bob Dylan with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp, and Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band.
Some concerts this summer were not so great, or met with a very unfortunate ending.
Aerosmith was forced to cancel a tour that started late, was plagued with issues and injuries from the beginning, and had ticket prices that were way too high. Initially, this tour was supposed to be supporting a new record that Aerosmith never got around to finishing. Fans were disappointed, band members were disappointed, and supposedly Steven Tyler fell off the wagon again. He debates that saying he is still clean and sober, but there’s no debating this, the Aerosmith tour did not happen and they are nowhere close to finishing the new album. If you’re not touring, and you’re not recording, just what the hell are you doing?
Def Leppard/Poison/Cheap Trick went out on tour together to the delight of many. The news of this unlikely band pairing sent a lot of fans searching for tickets, only to find that the prices were out of control. On top of that, Poison played their standard tired setlist and the reports were that Def Leppard just sucked. Supposedly Joe Elliot can’t sing anymore and as mighty as Def Leppard once was, it may be time for them to think about hanging it up.
So, what concerts did you get to take in this summer? What concerts were you shut out of? Which concerts do you think were overpriced? Which concerts gave you the most bang for your buck? The guru would love to hear from everyone and get their thoughts on the 2009 summer concert season. And be sure to check in on Wednesday (9/9) when I recap the summer festivals.
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
This summer my concert list was short and sweet. I hit Bruce Springsteen on Memorial Day weekend, Nickelback (with Saving Able, Papa Roach, and Hinder) in July, AC/DC in late July, and Incubus in August. Not a bad set for the summer.
This summer provided many excellent tours and some great bands hit the road.
Blink 182 made a surprise announcement earlier in the year that they were reuniting and going on tour. They did their best to keep ticket prices low and took some great bands out with them including Weezer, Panic at the Disco, and Taking Back Sunday.
Staind unleashed their Stimulate This! tour in an effort to give fans great live music for a low price. Taking Shinedown, Cheville, and Haelstorm on the road with them was a move that certainly helped and delighted hard rock fans nationwide.
Nine Inch Nails said goodbye while Jane’s Addiction said hello. The recently re-reunited Jane’s Addiction teamed up with NIN for a double dose of WOW! Unfortunately, I missed this concert due to family obligations, otherwise I would have been there. Nine Inch Nails declared halfway through the tour that this was the end for them, and there were huge bets on whether Jane’s Addiction would make it to the end (they did). That was a great pairing for an excellent summer tour.
Incubus was without a doubt the biggest surprise of the summer for me. I went to see them on a last minute whim and had no real expectations of what they’d be like. I’ve always enjoyed their music, but never went crazy for the band. After seeing them live, that all changed. Their performance was top notch. Brandon Boyd is an incredible showman and he has an amazing voice. As a front man and lead singer, his was amazing in concert.
AC/DC stormed through the Northeast this summer. While I got to witness them at Giants Stadium, I would not have been able to do so if a special ticket offer did not turn up. Their performance was incredible (as always) and I’m glad that I went to see them, but they need to rethink their ticket prices if they want sellout crowds. $100 for nosebleeds is not a bargain in anyone’s book.
Dave Matthews Band was out on tour in support of their latest release Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King. A consummate touring band, DMB is always on the road every year, and even with the passing of one of their leaders (LeRoi Moore) last summer, they still are out on an extended tour this year. Always a great band to watch, DMB is an enjoyable summer experience, and for some fans, it’s not summer without them.
Phish reunited and went on tour to the delight of millions (as obvious by how quick the tickets sold out). While there were issues getting tickets at first, things eventually worked out when Live Nation decided to stagger the on sale dates of their future shows. The Phish-heads rejoiced and from what I’ve heard, the band is in top form. The band even gave away free downloads to their first three reunion shows.
Judas Priest hit the road taking hard rock veterans Whitesnake with them. They also offered the opening slot to a hot new band, Pop Evil. If you haven’t already checked out their debut album, cousin Ryo highly recommends it. While Whitesnake had to leave the tour at the tail end due to David Coverdale’s throat problems, the reports from people who got to see the full act were nothing but raves. Judas Priest played British Steel in its entirety and Whitesnake hauled out all the expected classics with one or two new songs.
Other notable tours this summer included OAR, Green Day, Nickelback (with Saving Able, Papa Roach, and Hinder), Billy Squire, Toad the Wet Sprocket, the newly reunited Creed, Bob Dylan with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp, and Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band.
Some concerts this summer were not so great, or met with a very unfortunate ending.
Aerosmith was forced to cancel a tour that started late, was plagued with issues and injuries from the beginning, and had ticket prices that were way too high. Initially, this tour was supposed to be supporting a new record that Aerosmith never got around to finishing. Fans were disappointed, band members were disappointed, and supposedly Steven Tyler fell off the wagon again. He debates that saying he is still clean and sober, but there’s no debating this, the Aerosmith tour did not happen and they are nowhere close to finishing the new album. If you’re not touring, and you’re not recording, just what the hell are you doing?
Def Leppard/Poison/Cheap Trick went out on tour together to the delight of many. The news of this unlikely band pairing sent a lot of fans searching for tickets, only to find that the prices were out of control. On top of that, Poison played their standard tired setlist and the reports were that Def Leppard just sucked. Supposedly Joe Elliot can’t sing anymore and as mighty as Def Leppard once was, it may be time for them to think about hanging it up.
So, what concerts did you get to take in this summer? What concerts were you shut out of? Which concerts do you think were overpriced? Which concerts gave you the most bang for your buck? The guru would love to hear from everyone and get their thoughts on the 2009 summer concert season. And be sure to check in on Wednesday (9/9) when I recap the summer festivals.
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Live Nation's Final Push for Cheap Tickets
For one day only (today, Wednesday September 2nd) Live Nation is offering their final summer concert promotions. For $10 - $15 (depending on the show) you get an all in offer. A great seat (though not necessarily the best seat), no fees, and no hassle.
Live Nation has been running great deals like this all summer, and this one is no exception. Go to http://www.livenation.com/ to find a venue and deal near you!
You have until 11:59 PM tonight to get your tickets. Get out and enjoy one final summer concert before the season is over for another year.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Seeing Concerts for a Discounted Price
Regular readers of The Rock and Roll Guru know that cousin Ryo is a frugal music lover. I like to have as much fun as the next headbanger, but I also like to be careful with my money and maximize the enjoyment I get for every dollar spent.
With the economy still on shaky ground at best, and everyone’s job status in a questionable state (mine included), it pays to be careful with your hard earned money. Summer is here, which means summer concert season is here, and concerts are my favorite live event past time; even more so than a baseball game, which if you know me well, says a lot.
We all want to enjoy a summer concert when we can, but some of us don’t want to spend a ton of money to see the show. Well, if you’re not picky about where your seats are (RE: you don’t mind nosebleeds or grass blades) then there are several ways that you can enjoy concerts this summer without breaking the bank.
Live Nation
Live Nation is doing their part to help sell out the amphitheater concerts they are promoting. While some fans argue that this only helps those people who “kind of sort of” want to see the show, I disagree. This helps people on a budget have a great concert experience. Every Wednesday (so far this summer) Live Nation offers a new discount on lawn seats with no service fees to pay. The first offered any lawn seat with no fees at all. The latest was a ticket, a hot dog, and a soda for $29.99 with no service fees. All of their promotions have been good offers that would save the average attendee money.
Perhaps you don’t have online availability on a Wednesday. Well fear not, you can always buy a 4-pack of lawn seats anytime and save money that way. Usually the prices break down so that a 4-pack of lawn tickets is the same as a buy 3, get 1 free. Find 3 friends and split the cost of the discounted 4-pack.
Citi Cards
Do you have a Citi credit card? Here’s another way to get cheap(er) tickets through Citi card.For select concerts, basically concerts that were not selling as well as expected, Citi Cards is offering discounted ticket prices when you purchase the tickets with your Citi card. I was able to score dirt cheap AC/DC tickets this way, and there are other concerts being promoted through Citi as well. Blink 182 and the Def Leppard/Poison/Cheap Trick concert come to mind immediately.
They’ve also just started offering $5 lawn seats for select concerts. If you purchase with your Citi card, you can get lawn seats to some pretty good shows for $5. Most notably Cruefest 2.
Bands on Tour
Blink 182 is doing their part to keep concert tickets inexpensive. Working with Live Nation, Blink 182 (touring with Weezer, Taking Back Sunday, and a rotating opening act) made sure that the lawn seats for all of their concerts were not expensive at all (and with no fees). They billed it an “all-inclusive” price and it was under $30. For those three bands, that’s a great price and looks like it will be a FUN concert.
Staind is also doing their part to keep ticket prices low. On tour with Shinedown, Chevelle, and Haelstorm, Staind is charging no more than $40 a ticket for their current tour. With a slam dunk lineup, it’s a great price that will definitely get bang for your buck.
Wait It Out
Sometimes it pays to procrastinate. For certain concerts, usually the big name acts that sell out almost immediately, premium seats go on sale just before the live event date (approximately one week out in most cases). This is usually due to left over band tickets that promoters couldn’t use, or the performers holding back on the great seats in the hopes of thwarting scalpers. These seats are always face value, and while they may not be dirt cheap depending on the performer, they are the best seats in the house, which means there is some serious value for your dollar.
You can also wait until the day before or the day of the concert and try to find someone online that is looking to unload the tickets without taking a hit. If you can purchase these for face value, then you can get tickets without paying all of the extra fees. I was able to attend a Bruce Springsteen concert at Giants Stadium this way once. I waited until about a week before the show and saw two tickets at face value with no extra fees through one of the online scalping sites. I scooped them up immediately and it actually ended up saving me $30 (in fees)
I Heard It on the Radio
As a last resort, there are always radio contests, stations giving away tickets to the hot show in your area. While this is the least effective way to get tickets, if you do win, the tickets won’t cost a dime and the seats will be phenomenal. Radio stations always get seats on the floor, usually in the first 15 rows. My friend Special Ed won Meatloaf tickets for a concert back in 1994 and took me with him. We sat in the third row and had the time of our lives. So, while it is rare, you can win tickets on the radio. Tune in to your local radio station and see what they’re giving away.
Everyone wants to enjoy their summer concerts and everyone wants to be careful with how their dollars are spent. Your cousin Ryo hopes that these tips will help you out and get you at a concert for a discounted (or even free) ticket price.
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
With the economy still on shaky ground at best, and everyone’s job status in a questionable state (mine included), it pays to be careful with your hard earned money. Summer is here, which means summer concert season is here, and concerts are my favorite live event past time; even more so than a baseball game, which if you know me well, says a lot.
We all want to enjoy a summer concert when we can, but some of us don’t want to spend a ton of money to see the show. Well, if you’re not picky about where your seats are (RE: you don’t mind nosebleeds or grass blades) then there are several ways that you can enjoy concerts this summer without breaking the bank.
Live Nation
Live Nation is doing their part to help sell out the amphitheater concerts they are promoting. While some fans argue that this only helps those people who “kind of sort of” want to see the show, I disagree. This helps people on a budget have a great concert experience. Every Wednesday (so far this summer) Live Nation offers a new discount on lawn seats with no service fees to pay. The first offered any lawn seat with no fees at all. The latest was a ticket, a hot dog, and a soda for $29.99 with no service fees. All of their promotions have been good offers that would save the average attendee money.
Perhaps you don’t have online availability on a Wednesday. Well fear not, you can always buy a 4-pack of lawn seats anytime and save money that way. Usually the prices break down so that a 4-pack of lawn tickets is the same as a buy 3, get 1 free. Find 3 friends and split the cost of the discounted 4-pack.
Citi Cards
Do you have a Citi credit card? Here’s another way to get cheap(er) tickets through Citi card.For select concerts, basically concerts that were not selling as well as expected, Citi Cards is offering discounted ticket prices when you purchase the tickets with your Citi card. I was able to score dirt cheap AC/DC tickets this way, and there are other concerts being promoted through Citi as well. Blink 182 and the Def Leppard/Poison/Cheap Trick concert come to mind immediately.
They’ve also just started offering $5 lawn seats for select concerts. If you purchase with your Citi card, you can get lawn seats to some pretty good shows for $5. Most notably Cruefest 2.
Bands on Tour
Blink 182 is doing their part to keep concert tickets inexpensive. Working with Live Nation, Blink 182 (touring with Weezer, Taking Back Sunday, and a rotating opening act) made sure that the lawn seats for all of their concerts were not expensive at all (and with no fees). They billed it an “all-inclusive” price and it was under $30. For those three bands, that’s a great price and looks like it will be a FUN concert.
Staind is also doing their part to keep ticket prices low. On tour with Shinedown, Chevelle, and Haelstorm, Staind is charging no more than $40 a ticket for their current tour. With a slam dunk lineup, it’s a great price that will definitely get bang for your buck.
Wait It Out
Sometimes it pays to procrastinate. For certain concerts, usually the big name acts that sell out almost immediately, premium seats go on sale just before the live event date (approximately one week out in most cases). This is usually due to left over band tickets that promoters couldn’t use, or the performers holding back on the great seats in the hopes of thwarting scalpers. These seats are always face value, and while they may not be dirt cheap depending on the performer, they are the best seats in the house, which means there is some serious value for your dollar.
You can also wait until the day before or the day of the concert and try to find someone online that is looking to unload the tickets without taking a hit. If you can purchase these for face value, then you can get tickets without paying all of the extra fees. I was able to attend a Bruce Springsteen concert at Giants Stadium this way once. I waited until about a week before the show and saw two tickets at face value with no extra fees through one of the online scalping sites. I scooped them up immediately and it actually ended up saving me $30 (in fees)
I Heard It on the Radio
As a last resort, there are always radio contests, stations giving away tickets to the hot show in your area. While this is the least effective way to get tickets, if you do win, the tickets won’t cost a dime and the seats will be phenomenal. Radio stations always get seats on the floor, usually in the first 15 rows. My friend Special Ed won Meatloaf tickets for a concert back in 1994 and took me with him. We sat in the third row and had the time of our lives. So, while it is rare, you can win tickets on the radio. Tune in to your local radio station and see what they’re giving away.
Everyone wants to enjoy their summer concerts and everyone wants to be careful with how their dollars are spent. Your cousin Ryo hopes that these tips will help you out and get you at a concert for a discounted (or even free) ticket price.
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Citi Cards Offering Their "Summer of Savings"
Citi Cards, in conjunction with Live Nation, is running a new concert ticket promotion for their customers - $5 lawn seats for select shows.
Shows Included:
Cruefest (except in Holmdel)
Nickelback with Hinder, Papa Roach, and Saving Abel
Blink 182
Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival featuring Slayer, Marilyn Manson, and Bullet For My Valentine.
Depeche Mode (only 3 selected shows)
Call it the “we need help selling out our shows” promotion. Cruefest wouldn’t have to sell $5 lawn tickets if they picked better bands to be on the bill. Last year I paid $125 to see them, this year I’m not sure I’ll pay $5. Okay, for $5 I guess I will go, but it won’t be in Holmdel, because that’s one of the venues discounted tickets are not being offered.
For full details, head to http://www.citiprivatepass.com/. You must be a Citi Card member to take advantage of these offers and yes, all Live Nation fees will be added to the total.
Shows Included:
Cruefest (except in Holmdel)
Nickelback with Hinder, Papa Roach, and Saving Abel
Blink 182
Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival featuring Slayer, Marilyn Manson, and Bullet For My Valentine.
Depeche Mode (only 3 selected shows)
Call it the “we need help selling out our shows” promotion. Cruefest wouldn’t have to sell $5 lawn tickets if they picked better bands to be on the bill. Last year I paid $125 to see them, this year I’m not sure I’ll pay $5. Okay, for $5 I guess I will go, but it won’t be in Holmdel, because that’s one of the venues discounted tickets are not being offered.
For full details, head to http://www.citiprivatepass.com/. You must be a Citi Card member to take advantage of these offers and yes, all Live Nation fees will be added to the total.
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
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