Journey’s Manila concert cancelled due to sluggish sales

[tater1977]

Journey’s Manila concert cancelled due to sluggish sales


March 8, 2013


http://entertainment.inquirer.net/84183 ... z2MwjkXDm2

MANILA, Philippines—The Manila concert of American rock band Journey set this March has been cancelled, lead vocalist Arnel Pineda announced Friday, citing sluggish ticket sales.

“Due to the extreme importance of the Easter holiday in my home country, as well as the deserved widespread media attention on the upcoming election in Manila, the ticket sales for Journey’s upcoming show have understandably been somewhat slow,” Pineda said in a statement.

“We have decided it is best for everyone to postpone the Manila concert until the next time Journey tours in Asia,” he said. “We are very sorry that we won’t be able to see our fans this year, but we will see you again soon. You know we all love to play in Manila!”

Journey was supposed to hold its Manila concert on March 21 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

For refund of tickets, call SM Tickets at 470-2222. Aries B. Espinosa


Read more: http://entertainment.inquirer.net/84183 ... z2MwjvOm7S

[Don]

Demi Lovota ticket sales seem to be going well. Checked the prices, they're about the same as Journey's so it's not economics. She also just started selling tickets too, even with her concert only a few weeks away (March 20).
Found out something else. Holy Week doesn't actually start until March 24th.
I really don't like that the band had Arnel go out there and try to explain slow sales. Especially when the facts don't fly with other things.
The band obviously can't/won't return unless they are doing a full Asia tour so it may be 2015 at the earliest when they try one more time for a show there in Manila. Maybe if they could get a popular local act to open for them they might have better luck. And I'm not talking about the ZOO. I mean a really popular local act.

I checked last year's shows to see how things went right before Holy Week. The Holiday started on April 1st. Olivia Newton John had a Concert the night before (Mar 31) and sold the place out.

Hanson (remember those guys?) had a show on March 30 (two nights before Holy week started) at the Araneta Coliseum which received rave reviews also.

Looking back, even the first Manila show with all the momentum in the world only netted between 20-25k people. This show now is three years past. Also remember, that Arnel had been on local TV singing DSB and other Journey songs before their last gig. That hasn't happened since either.

Just face the facts, ticket sales were slow because it's Journey and the initial euphoria of seeing a Filipino front an American band has become yesterday's news.

It's not the end of the world, it's only one country. Hell, Journey was on top of the hill in the early 80s and they only played North America and Japan. This "world" band thing is way over-hyped.

[slucero]

I really don't like that the band had Arnel go out there and try to explain slow sales.

That wasn't Arnel... that was a press release, written by a PR person..

[brywool]

You know, check out the Arnelpineda.com group (yeah, I know that strikes fear in most of your hearts!), but I was curious how the cancellation is playing out there- The timing of the show really DOES seem to be a major issue as well as some of the promotion (too late). There's a ton of things going on at that time in Manila where a concert is not a high priority for peeps. Imagine if there was a Journey Christmas Eve show in Spokane. Not many would go as they'd be with their families, etc.. It looks like this may be a similar scenario where whoever scheduled the show picked some bad dates.
Read a bit of that stuff over on the other site. It's interesting. It sounds like it could be bad planning on the part of Journey's mgmt- wow, that NEVER happens

From that site-
"Being a local here, I'd say it is bad timing. As I mentioned above, some people take off before the influx of people in terminals both for land and air and head off to beaches before everyone else does. But in my point of view too honestly, the promotion was bad and came too late. See Singapore mention above. If I remember correctly, the concert of The Script was originally on March 31st. That was why I corrected my post when I checked on the link, it was move to April. No one would think of holding a concert during the Lenten season. Unless you talk about small acts doing something for Easter. Hotels for one. But everyone else, including artists are off for a vacation. I know of a few plokkers who couldn't make it. Especially those who have to travel say 3 hrs to reach SM Arena on a Thursday on public commute. Hint: Don't expect to set an appointment with your doctor a week before, during or after the Lenten season. Manila is virtually a ghost town during the Lenten season. Kinda like your Labor Day.

**P.S. - Having said a mouthful, the election thing is a bit of a stretch for me. Elections is early May. Unless they expect politicians to be there to watch. And they are hot on the campaign trail already.

*** P.S. - If I may add again, if this is a good example, ASAP the live noontime show on Sundays is likely to be a pre-recorded show on Easter. Maybe that's a good gauge. If they are not this Easter,then that would be a first time. And whoever thought of that date, did not study the local conditions before setting it.
"

[Don]

I can only go with facts. Like I posted earlier, last year Olivia Newton John played the night before Holy Week began while Hansen played two nights before in venues the same size. This year, Demi Lovota is playing the night before Journey was scheduled. Her fans are younger and have finals that week too but they are buying tickets.
I lived in the PI for a while and I have been there during Holy Week probably a dozen times. While it's very important, beyond a few days (Easter Sunday) the entertainment industry just doesn't shut off like people are insinuating.
And I can say with some conviction that Journey was NEVER big over there beyond Open Arms (and that was the Mariah Carey cover). My last time there was after Journey toured with Arnel and there still wasn't a major change on the radio stations as far as playing more Journey except for when the one young kid was on one of the idol shows singing Faithfully.
You can't just change people's listening interests because one of their own happen to be in a certain group. Once the euphoria wore off about the local boy done good, things went back to how they were before there, where beyond a few songs Journey music just isn't all that popular.

I also understand from reading Arnel's website over the years that it is almost against the rules to look at the glass half empty, rather than half full. While they have every bit of news and tweets about Journey instantly posted, something like Jon's post about not making new music isn't posted there. They know about it but with their rose colored glasses refuse to accept it.
I also understand that they're primarily fans of Arnel, not necessarily Journey. Look at the posts over there the mods have tried stimulating conversation with concerning Jon or Neal or Deen. Most of the time, Zero responses.

With that said, even Arnelpinedarocks has seen some lean times as of late. A place that used to used to pull in more than a hundred posts a day has dropped to a few dozen now. Even the shoutbox has slowed tremendously as people have moved on to the next big thing ie. Charice, Jessica Sanchez, etc.


Getting back to posts about the cancellation, I also have read on APR's site other comments such as these:


AP achievements always been ignored here in PI,the media and his co-artist seems indifferent on him,don't know why?not all "pinoys" have the luxury of having a computer or a latest gadget or celphone ,much of the people rely on whats new on TV....and media simply didn't want good news,all they want is for people to go ranting and feeling not good about themselves and the country they live in.

I've sensed the lukewarm attitude from my relatives and friends in the PI - I was frustrated with them. They dont get it- what Arnel has accomplished with Journey is not a small feat at all! They think I'm just this delusional (which I'm not)and obsessed (which I am!! ) fan of Arnel!
And I've noticed that the industry there is not supportive either

Other plokkers looking at it from the promotional angle also.

I think besides the things they said, I think it's because of lack of promotion. I don't watch tv so I don't know if they advertised..I haven't seen any billboard. While other artists that go here promote like crazy, I just learned about the concert because I'm a plokker. Nobody really knows that there is a concert. Other artists have billboards covering several floors of buildings, malls...while Journey has none that I saw.. My hubby saw a very small poster that looked like an announcement and he said it was so cheap looking you wouldn't look at it.. It only caught his eye because he knows Arnel. Really, why can't they promote like the others? I'm so mad! :impatient:

Also, the fact that Arnel is not allowed to sing Journey songs here in the PI does not help in promoting them.A relative once asked me, "is Arnel still with Journey?"



The last comment might actually make a little sense. If the guy is in a band, why can't he sing their songs while he is home? We here understand why but for the average Filipino who knows nothing about Journey or how American bands operate, they probably don't understand and may simply assume that Arnel is no longer active with the group.

In the end though, my opinion carries as much weight as the next persons and is what it is.
It's one show in one country, that just happens to be the birthplace of the current vocalist.
The facts are simple. Journey did not sell enough tickets for their concert after a four year absence from Manila. No one knows when they will tour Asia again.
While I don't think they will wait four years next time around, at least two years seems the soonest they'll return. That will be at minimum six years between Manila gigs. Whether that will be a good thing or bad thing I don't know.

[verslibre]

Also, the fact that Arnel is not allowed to sing Journey songs here in the PI does not help in promoting them.A relative once asked me, "is Arnel still with Journey?"



The last comment might actually make a little sense. If the guy is in a band, why can't he sing their songs while he is home? We here understand why but for the average Filipino who knows nothing about Journey or how American bands operate, they probably don't understand and may simply assume that Arnel is no longer active with the group.

That's sheer idiocy.

Journey's career really is running on fumes, though. They're lucky they lasted this long. They should call it, or quit grumbling about money and gruelling tour schedules and be like Blue Oyster Cult.

[slucero]

Also, the fact that Arnel is not allowed to sing Journey songs here in the PI does not help in promoting them.A relative once asked me, "is Arnel still with Journey?"



The last comment might actually make a little sense. If the guy is in a band, why can't he sing their songs while he is home? We here understand why but for the average Filipino who knows nothing about Journey or how American bands operate, they probably don't understand and may simply assume that Arnel is no longer active with the group.

That's sheer idiocy.

Journey's career really is running on fumes, though. They're lucky they lasted this long. They should call it, or quit grumbling about money and gruelling tour schedules and be like Blue Oyster Cult.

\



Ya thats fucking stupid beyond belief.. Arnel is home.. in the band.. and him singing at home could only serve to promote the band..

wow....

[Don]

Well, the problem is, if Arnel sings Journey music sans Journey while on TV, it will mostly be done to a minus one track (Karaoke). If he can do that, then why pay 8,000 pesos to see the rest of the J-Boyz when they could hear the songs at Pineda's rock club for 500 pesos instead? No one there gives a hoot about Neal or Jon, they just want the vocals. Remember, a filipino was the co- creator of the Karaoke machine. You can't go to a Filipino party without one being present. Vocal worship is culturally ingrained, to hell with the rest of the band..

It's a bit of a complicated situation.

[brywool]

Well, if Journey was "never" big over there, then them cancelling the show really isn't that big of a deal. Granted, Arnel's done great and is making a ton of money, but that's like how a few years ago Bon Jovi couldn't get arrested in the states, but in Europe, they were amazingly huge. That was when the These Days album came out. It was a flop over here. Yeah, the Cain thing has really irked me this week. Man, way to not stand united and by your decision and creative output. My God, so they put out an album that didn't do huge sales. It happens. Doesn't mean you throw in the towel. Sounds like Cain better start listening to his own lyrics: Anything is Possible, Don't Stop Believin, What it Takes to Win, etc. Guess it's all BS.
I cannot believe that there's not better management for Journey. I think a lot of their issues fall on mgmt.

[Don]

Well, if Journey was "never" big over there, then them cancelling the show really isn't that big of a deal. Granted, Arnel's done great and is making a ton of money, but that's like how a few years ago Bon Jovi couldn't get arrested in the states, but in Europe, they were amazingly huge. That was when the These Days album came out. It was a flop over here. Yeah, the Cain thing has really irked me this week. Man, way to not stand united and by your decision and creative output. My God, so they put out an album that didn't do huge sales. It happens. Doesn't mean you throw in the towel. Sounds like Cain better better start listening to his own lyrics: Anything is Possible, Don't Stop Believin, What it Takes to Win, etc. Guess it's all BS.

That is what I have been saying. Manila is one show in a place that never was into Journey in the first place. Write it off but don't make Arnel go out there making pathetic excuses; the initial cancellation press release was all that was needed.

Most Rock bands would love to sell 100,000 albums but Journey seems to have got caught up in their own hype these days where for them, that is failure.
Really, if it's only about the music, they can make their own financed album in Jon's studio. Hell, Cain even said they would they do that last year. Make it a digital release, only available on iTunes and Amazon if they want.
If it's an Ego thing and they now expect Revelation numbers and Wal-mart type money, well then Jon is right. They are done recording.
Even releasing an album that is classic Journey by the numbers is not going to get you those type of sales again.
The package with the greatest hits re-recorded and a free DVD for 12 bucks can't happen again. Wal-Mart is done with those deals.

One thing that has been forgotten and is a bit off topic but WHEN Eclipse was released, the MEMBERS here really gave it great reviews. Yes, there were a few who didn't care for it but 90% of the posts here that weekend were VERY POSITIVE.
Comparing it to the response it got in APR forums, you would have thought that we here were the actual plokkers.
There were about three days here were everything was about every track on that album and it was mostly good conversation (with the exception of COH, which most here hated, myself included but that will happen with every album). The problem was, we were the biggest promotion the album had at that time. Even the band wasn't promoting it properly on their radio interviews.

And that's all I got to say on the subject.

[Ehwmatt]

Well, if Journey was "never" big over there, then them cancelling the show really isn't that big of a deal. Granted, Arnel's done great and is making a ton of money, but that's like how a few years ago Bon Jovi couldn't get arrested in the states, but in Europe, they were amazingly huge. That was when the These Days album came out. It was a flop over here. Yeah, the Cain thing has really irked me this week. Man, way to not stand united and by your decision and creative output. My God, so they put out an album that didn't do huge sales. It happens. Doesn't mean you throw in the towel. Sounds like Cain better better start listening to his own lyrics: Anything is Possible, Don't Stop Believin, What it Takes to Win, etc. Guess it's all BS.

That is what I have been saying. Manila is one show in a place that never was into Journey in the first place. Write it off but don't make Arnel go out there making pathetic excuses; the initial cancellation press release was all that was needed.

Most Rock bands would love to sell 100,000 albums but Journey seems to have got caught up in their own hype these days where for them, that is failure.
Really, if it's only about the music, they can make their own financed album in Jon's studio. Hell, Cain even said they would they do that last year. Make it a digital release, only available on iTunes and Amazon if they want.
If it's an Ego thing and they now expect Revelation numbers and Wal-mart type money, well then Jon is right. They are done recording.
Even releasing an album that is classic Journey by the numbers is not going to get you those type of sales again.
The package with the greatest hits re-recorded and a free DVD for 12 bucks can't happen again. Wal-Mart is done with those deals.

One thing that has been forgotten and is a bit off topic but WHEN Eclipse was released, the MEMBERS here really gave it great reviews. Yes, there were a few who didn't care for it but 90% of the posts here that weekend were VERY POSITIVE.
Comparing it to the response it got in APR forums, you would have thought that we here were the actual plokkers.
There were about three days here were everything was about every track on that album and it was mostly good conversation (with the exception of COH, which most here hated, myself included but that will happen with every album). The problem was, we were the biggest promotion the album had at that time. Even the band wasn't promoting it properly on their radio interviews.

And that's all I got to say on the subject.

I think we all yearn for new music from our favorite bands and generally, most of us are willing to look for the best in new music when we finally get our hands/ears on it. I certainly thought much more of Revelation and Eclipse in the first couple weeks I was listening to them. But once the excitement factor wears off and objectivity sets in, your views tend to change. This isn't unique to the Pineda era, either. Hell, I remember the much-maligned Generations getting rave reviews from most people here (including Deano himself) back in the day when I was a mere lurker here.