Does the economy have a REAL effect on ticket sales?

[Don]

The last year we have seen acts going out as co-headliners, playing smaller venues and even for free on some occasions. Is this really because of the economy or is it that these acts just aren't big enough anymore to garner premium ticket prices. Taylor Swift, AC-DC and others sold out big venues at regular prices without any problems. Roger Waters is selling tickets at $250 for the cheap seats and is still going to sell out MSG, Staples on multiple nights.
Is the economy just an excuse for the older acts to explain why they're playing the rodeo or casinos? Are their fans poorer than other bands? What's the real deal?

[Rick]

The last year we have seen acts going out as co-headliners, playing smaller venues and even for free on some occasions. Is this really because of the economy or is it that these acts just aren't big enough anymore to garner premium ticket prices. Taylor Swift, AC-DC and others sold out big venues at regular prices without any problems. Roger Waters is selling tickets at $250 for the cheap seats and is still going to sell out MSG, Staples on multiple nights.
Is the economy just an excuse for the older acts to explain why they're playing the rodeo or casinos? Are their fans poorer than other bands? What's the real deal?

I used to go to concerts a lot, when I was young. Now my money is far more tied up in life. People are putting kids through college, and I've seen, what's gotten to be so much more common, where people are raising their kids kids. I wish I had more disposable income for things like concerts and the like, but I just don't.

[Rockindeano]

The last year we have seen acts going out as co-headliners, playing smaller venues and even for free on some occasions. Is this really because of the economy or is it that these acts just aren't big enough anymore to garner premium ticket prices. Taylor Swift, AC-DC and others sold out big venues at regular prices without any problems. Roger Waters is selling tickets at $250 for the cheap seats and is still going to sell out MSG, Staples on multiple nights.
Is the economy just an excuse for the older acts to explain why they're playing the rodeo or casinos? Are their fans poorer than other bands? What's the real deal?

Hell no it's not the economy. The true big, great acts still sell out. Look, Waters doesn't tour every year like some other bands we know of, so he is expected to sell out, plus he represents a special piece of music(Pink Floyd). ACDC, Bon Jovi, Bruce, U2 all sell out no problem. The tired acts, the classic rock acts who tour three deep are the ones who have trouble. REO, Kansas, Journey, Foreigner, etc...they need small venues and low ticket prices. If a really good or special act comes to town, people are going to catch them. Why would any struggling family go pay to see Journey play the same old songs yet again? They just aren't special anymore, since they tour every year and play the same vanilla set night after night.

[Hollywood]

The last year we have seen acts going out as co-headliners, playing smaller venues and even for free on some occasions. Is this really because of the economy or is it that these acts just aren't big enough anymore to garner premium ticket prices. Taylor Swift, AC-DC and others sold out big venues at regular prices without any problems. Roger Waters is selling tickets at $250 for the cheap seats and is still going to sell out MSG, Staples on multiple nights.
Is the economy just an excuse for the older acts to explain why they're playing the rodeo or casinos? Are their fans poorer than other bands? What's the real deal?

Hell no it's not the economy. The true big, great acts still sell out. Look, Waters doesn't tour every year like some other bands we know of, so he is expected to sell out, plus he represents a special piece of music(Pink Floyd). ACDC, Bon Jovi, Bruce, U2 all sell out no problem. The tired acts, the classic rock acts who tour three deep are the ones who have trouble. REO, Kansas, Journey, Foreigner, etc...they need small venues and low ticket prices. If a really good or special act comes to town, people are going to catch them. Why would any struggling family go pay to see Journey play the same old songs yet again? They just aren't special anymore, since they tour every year and play the same vanilla set night after night.

Maybe because that is what 90%of the people that go to a Journey concert want to hear. If they play deep album cuts most people hit the bathroom. Plus, I think Journey does a good job mixing in other tracks compared to other older acts, but they have to play those core songs every night because those songs pay the bills. If Journey were on tour this year they would be fine, but I like the fact that they take time off.

In addition, it is not just older acts having problems. Rhianna is shedding tour dates left and right due to poor ticket sales. Typically reliable country acts are shedding dates or cancelling tours. Christina Aguliera just killed her whole tour due to ticket sales. American Idle live is shedding dates.

[Jana]

(Reuters) - "Combined ticket sales for the biggest concert tours in North America during the first half of the year fell to their lowest point since 2005 as the weak economy and "piggish" ticket prices kept fans at home, a trade publication reported on Thursday.

The top 100 tours grossed $965.5 million during the first six months, a 17 percent slide from the year-ago period, and the lowest for the time frame since the $731 million haul in the first half of 2005, according to Pollstar magazine.

High-profile outings by the Eagles, the Jonas Brothers and the latest crop of American Idol finalists suffered poor sales. Christina Aguilera, Limp Bizkit and the Go-Gos' canceled their tours, and organizers of the all-female Lilith Fair organizers said last week that they had scrapped about a third of the shows.

Pollstar said fans "may be turned off by piggish top-tier prices, resentful of ticket add-on fees, and downright angry when they hear about discounted tickets after they have paid full price."

But it noted that tours by Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift and rock band Muse did well, as did singer/songwriter James Taylor's trek with Carole King.

On a worldwide basis, Australian rockers AC/DC came out on top, selling $177.5 million worth of tickets, followed by Bon Jovi with $75.7 million and Metallica with $60.8 million, Pollstar said. Taylor and King took in $53.9 million, ahead of the Black Eyed Peas with $48.4 million.

In the United States and Canada, Bon Jovi ($52.8 million), Taylor/King ($41 million), Swift ($34.2 million) and Paul McCartney ($31.5 million) led the field.

"Fans still crave live music and will come out to shows when they can afford it, despite the industry's misguided efforts to squeeze the fun out of the experience," Pollstar said."

[The Sushi Hunter]

Does the economy REALLY effect ticket sales?

Yes

[Jana]

Does the economy REALLY effect ticket sales?

Yes

"affect."

[rockinfayrose]

If the economy had anything to do with selling concert tickets, there wouldn't be all these high-priced VIP package options available...obviously fans will drop $1,875 for 3rd row seats to Bon Jovi along with an open bar, catered meal and pic with JBJ's mike stand (not a joke), or it just wouldn't be offered. Other pricey packs I found were for KISS ($975), Eagles ($900), Black Eyed Peas ($575), Lady Gaga ($405), and a whopping $1,450 for Aerosmith Just ridiculous...

For approx. $300 or so, Meat Loaf has a VIP package that includes a Meet & Greet but I'm sticking with the pauper package

[Andrew]

The last year we have seen acts going out as co-headliners, playing smaller venues and even for free on some occasions. Is this really because of the economy or is it that these acts just aren't big enough anymore to garner premium ticket prices. Taylor Swift, AC-DC and others sold out big venues at regular prices without any problems. Roger Waters is selling tickets at $250 for the cheap seats and is still going to sell out MSG, Staples on multiple nights.
Is the economy just an excuse for the older acts to explain why they're playing the rodeo or casinos? Are their fans poorer than other bands? What's the real deal?

Hell no it's not the economy. The true big, great acts still sell out. Look, Waters doesn't tour every year like some other bands we know of, so he is expected to sell out, plus he represents a special piece of music(Pink Floyd). ACDC, Bon Jovi, Bruce, U2 all sell out no problem. The tired acts, the classic rock acts who tour three deep are the ones who have trouble. REO, Kansas, Journey, Foreigner, etc...they need small venues and low ticket prices. If a really good or special act comes to town, people are going to catch them. Why would any struggling family go pay to see Journey play the same old songs yet again? They just aren't special anymore, since they tour every year and play the same vanilla set night after night.

Selling out at the moment is an absolute rarity. Barely anyone is and most tours have discount tickets on offer. The bare fact is that the tour business is in real trouble and the tour business was about the only way artists were making any money.
So until there is a reduction in outrageous ticket prices and a recovery in the economy as a whole - concert going will remain under major stress.
These are not only my opinions, they well discussed facts within the industry.

[steveo777]

The last year we have seen acts going out as co-headliners, playing smaller venues and even for free on some occasions. Is this really because of the economy or is it that these acts just aren't big enough anymore to garner premium ticket prices. Taylor Swift, AC-DC and others sold out big venues at regular prices without any problems. Roger Waters is selling tickets at $250 for the cheap seats and is still going to sell out MSG, Staples on multiple nights.
Is the economy just an excuse for the older acts to explain why they're playing the rodeo or casinos? Are their fans poorer than other bands? What's the real deal?

Hell no it's not the economy. The true big, great acts still sell out. Look, Waters doesn't tour every year like some other bands we know of, so he is expected to sell out, plus he represents a special piece of music(Pink Floyd). ACDC, Bon Jovi, Bruce, U2 all sell out no problem. The tired acts, the classic rock acts who tour three deep are the ones who have trouble. REO, Kansas, Journey, Foreigner, etc...they need small venues and low ticket prices. If a really good or special act comes to town, people are going to catch them. Why would any struggling family go pay to see Journey play the same old songs yet again? They just aren't special anymore, since they tour every year and play the same vanilla set night after night.

Selling out at the moment is an absolute rarity. Barely anyone is and most tours have discount tickets on offer. The bare fact is that the tour business is in real trouble and the tour business was about the only way artists were making any money.
So until there is a reduction in outrageous ticket prices and a recovery in the economy as a whole - concert going will remain under major stress.
These are not only my opinions, they well discussed facts within the industry.

Maybe Azoff had enough insight to understand this and said fuck it, Journey takes the year off. Also that way, maybe fans will be more pumped to see them next year and they will sell much better than they would have this year. It sounds like they're gonna hit the road hard for the next two years, then????

[WalrusOct9]

Greed got people out of the habit of going to shows regularly. Once the Eagles put prices over $100, it became a once/twice a year thing for most people. Now they're feeling the effects of that. My sympathy is pretty minimal.

[Don]

I think if you really have the fanbase, they will come. AC-DC just cleaned up on their last tour. U2 saw the people come out also. Bon Jovi still has over a dozen stadium shows in the U.S., Canada, Japan New Zealand and Australia whre all the VIP packages have already sold out. None of these acts have lowered ticket prices.
I think the economy is only a factor for the bands that have predominantly casual fans. Where you could love them or leave them types who don't live and breath with everything a band does. The bands who ride on the success of these fanbases are the ones who are suffering. I can't see that as the economy's fault though. I think it really exposes artists like Lady Gaga, and others who have fans just buying their stuff, following the pack but not having any emotional commitment to the artist. Looking at Christina Aguilera as opposed Taylor & King, it's obvious that the latter has a group of fans that are in for the long haul with those two icons, where as Christina is extremely talented but at her age can't afford to disappear for long periods of time as her music is still aimed at the demographic with the shorter attention span and she has t o start from scratch every time she puts out a new album as her prior group of fans seem to outgrow her or at the very most will buy an album but won't necessarily make the financial commitment to go to her shows.

[Rockindeano]

The last year we have seen acts going out as co-headliners, playing smaller venues and even for free on some occasions. Is this really because of the economy or is it that these acts just aren't big enough anymore to garner premium ticket prices. Taylor Swift, AC-DC and others sold out big venues at regular prices without any problems. Roger Waters is selling tickets at $250 for the cheap seats and is still going to sell out MSG, Staples on multiple nights.
Is the economy just an excuse for the older acts to explain why they're playing the rodeo or casinos? Are their fans poorer than other bands? What's the real deal?

Hell no it's not the economy. The true big, great acts still sell out. Look, Waters doesn't tour every year like some other bands we know of, so he is expected to sell out, plus he represents a special piece of music(Pink Floyd). ACDC, Bon Jovi, Bruce, U2 all sell out no problem. The tired acts, the classic rock acts who tour three deep are the ones who have trouble. REO, Kansas, Journey, Foreigner, etc...they need small venues and low ticket prices. If a really good or special act comes to town, people are going to catch them. Why would any struggling family go pay to see Journey play the same old songs yet again? They just aren't special anymore, since they tour every year and play the same vanilla set night after night.

Selling out at the moment is an absolute rarity. Barely anyone is and most tours have discount tickets on offer. The bare fact is that the tour business is in real trouble and the tour business was about the only way artists were making any money.
So until there is a reduction in outrageous ticket prices and a recovery in the economy as a whole - concert going will remain under major stress.
These are not only my opinions, they well discussed facts within the industry.

I understand what you are saying, but still my point about the big boys selling tickets is true. There are maybe what, 5 top rock bands that will always sell out; U2, Bon Jovi, Springsteen, The Eagles and ACDC. I would think that they aren't gripping too much, as opposed to say a Journey, who doesn't have the selling power that the biggies possess.

Steveo, this wasn't just an Azoff thing about taking the year off. When I was hanging with Schon and Friga, they both know the score too. Neal would comment that he loves to tour(obviously), but "they couldn't tour every fucking year." They know that touring every year diminishes the prospect of ticket sales. You have to go away in order to be missed. Hell, anyone on this Board knew Journey had to take a year off. It was a no brainer. However, new album or not, and I am leaning to "not," I think they are going to be in trouble on their next tour. They are going to have to pick a partner that they haven't toured with yet. Can you think of one? They've already done the Styx, REO, Heart, Lippard, Frampton and Foreigner thing already. They can't go out alone and play big arenas...that's just not happening. So what's a band like Journey to do? Maybe go solo and play 5 thousand seaters? Maybe pick an unconventional act like 5 for Fighting or somebody not in the Classic Rock genre? They're in a real pickle. Maybe go out with Bryan Adams or Thorogood, I don't know. I can tell you right now, and Azoff knows this, they aren't playing hockey arenas by themselves next year, no matter how good their release ir, because we all know their concert going fans don't come to hear anything but the 20 hits.

[Jana]

I think if you really have the fanbase, they will come. AC-DC just cleaned up on their last tour. U2 saw the people come out also. Bon Jovi still has over a dozen stadium shows in the U.S., Canada, Japan New Zealand and Australia whre all the VIP packages have already sold out. None of these acts have lowered ticket prices.
I think the economy is only a factor for the bands that have predominantly casual fans. Where you could love them or leave them types who don't live and breath with everything a band does. The bands who ride on the success of these fanbases are the ones who are suffering. I can't see that as the economy's fault though. I think it really exposes artists like Lady Gaga, and others who have fans just buying their stuff, following the pack but not having any emotional commitment to the artist. Looking at Christina Aguilera as opposed Taylor & King, it's obvious that the latter has a group of fans that are in for the long haul with those two icons, where as Christina is extremely talented but at her age can't afford to disappear for long periods of time as her music is still aimed at the demographic with the shorter attention span and she has t o start from scratch every time she puts out a new album as her prior group of fans seem to outgrow her or at the very most will buy an album but won't necessarily make the financial commitment to go to her shows.

Christina does disappear too long. Four years was too long, considering her last album was a total departure from Stripped three years before that. Back to Basics was standards, swing music, and some new ballads brought in on that album. That leads to an older audience mixed with younger, and then she tries to jump back on the electronica music with not just club pop, but a raunchy sex theme on some songs, which confused her more mature audience, even though it does have some beautiful ballads on there. Her reviews were not good for her new album, which wouldn't bode well for a tour right out the gate. Maybe with her being out there the rest of the year again and pushing some of the songs, her tour will happen next year. Hopefully, so.

Gaga's fans have a huge emotional attachment to her. They think she walks on water. But will that last if her new album is a bust? I don't know. Eighteen thousand showed up for the Today Show morning concert. They most they have ever had.

[The Sushi Hunter]

Does the economy REALLY effect ticket sales?

Yes

"affect."

Yeah yeah, I just cut and pasted the title of the thread. Maybe you should quote the person who wrote the title.

[Andrew]

I understand what you are saying, but still my point about the big boys selling tickets is true. There are maybe what, 5 top rock bands that will always sell out; U2, Bon Jovi, Springsteen, The Eagles and ACDC.

Jovi, Springsteen and U2 have all had discounts on tickets running. Eagles too....this year is a real bitch on the market.

[Rockindeano]

I understand what you are saying, but still my point about the big boys selling tickets is true. There are maybe what, 5 top rock bands that will always sell out; U2, Bon Jovi, Springsteen, The Eagles and ACDC.

Jovi, Springsteen and U2 have all had discounts on tickets running. Eagles too....this year is a real bitch on the market.

Yeah, after 90% of the real tickets are sold. You're nitpicking. U2 and Springsteen especilly sold their tickets in a bona fide manner. I know BJ is giving tickets away, but they still sold the majority of their tickets. Andy, Bruce and Bono were 1-2 in ticket sales last year, they're NOT hurting. And BOTH of their DVD's are selling like mad.

My bad, should not have included the Eagles in my post.

[stevew2]

The last year we have seen acts going out as co-headliners, playing smaller venues and even for free on some occasions. Is this really because of the economy or is it that these acts just aren't big enough anymore to garner premium ticket prices. Taylor Swift, AC-DC and others sold out big venues at regular prices without any problems. Roger Waters is selling tickets at $250 for the cheap seats and is still going to sell out MSG, Staples on multiple nights.
Is the economy just an excuse for the older acts to explain why they're playing the rodeo or casinos? Are their fans poorer than other bands? What's the real deal?

Hell no it's not the economy. The true big, great acts still sell out. Look, Waters doesn't tour every year like some other bands we know of, so he is expected to sell out, plus he represents a special piece of music(Pink Floyd). ACDC, Bon Jovi, Bruce, U2 all sell out no problem. The tired acts, the classic rock acts who tour three deep are the ones who have trouble. REO, Kansas, Journey, Foreigner, etc...they need small venues and low ticket prices. If a really good or special act comes to town, people are going to catch them. Why would any struggling family go pay to see Journey play the same old songs yet again? They just aren't special anymore, since they tour every year and play the same vanilla set night after night.

Selling out at the moment is an absolute rarity. Barely anyone is and most tours have discount tickets on offer. The bare fact is that the tour business is in real trouble and the tour business was about the only way artists were making any money.
So until there is a reduction in outrageous ticket prices and a recovery in the economy as a whole - concert going will remain under major stress.
These are not only my opinions, they well discussed facts within the industry.

Maybe Azoff had enough insight to understand this and said fuck it, Journey takes the year off. Also that way, maybe fans will be more pumped to see them next year and they will sell much better than they would have this year. It sounds like they're gonna hit the road hard for the next two years, then????

I would have kept going to 5 journey concerts per year if they wouldnt have fucked us and lied to us.i want to see bad company this year

[Andrew]

The End of the Road?
The concert business, a lone bright spot in the struggling music industry, is in trouble this summer. A tale of bad backs, canceled acts and angry fans.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 09566.html

[stevew2]

The End of the Road?
The concert business, a lone bright spot in the struggling music industry, is in trouble this summer. A tale of bad backs, canceled acts and angry fans.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 09566.html

The economy is fucked up, and tickmasters have been raping the fans for years,and I think the fans are fead up with all the convience fees, and then letting the scapers buying all the good seats and reselling them for 3 or 4 time what they are worth. I wouldnt pay 2 buck bucks to see the Anus brothers anyway

[Sarah]

I was really surprised to hear that Christina Aguilera and especially Rihanna have cancelled a bunch of dates because of low sales. I feel like it is affecting big names.

[Rockindeano]

The End of the Road?
The concert business, a lone bright spot in the struggling music industry, is in trouble this summer. A tale of bad backs, canceled acts and angry fans.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 09566.html

If you read the article, it basically says that unless the older acts are there, the younger acts cannot fill arenas. Well, I'd say about 5 years or so, the biggest bands are going to retire: U2, Springsteen, Petty, Bon Jovi and the Eagles. Then what? Journey and REO at the local community college gym? Nah, I'd say the classic rock acts will quit too. It just won't be worth it to tour.

[slucero]

The End of the Road?
The concert business, a lone bright spot in the struggling music industry, is in trouble this summer. A tale of bad backs, canceled acts and angry fans.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 09566.html

This makes sense... according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate amongst 16 - 19 year olds is 25.7 percent... between the ages of 16 and 30 its gotta be brutal....

[lights1961]

BTW

Trans siberian made the top 43 out of the top 50 tours so far this year... not too shabby.

[rockinfayrose]

BTW

Trans siberian made the top 43 out of the top 50 tours so far this year... not too shabby.

Thanks for this mention...TSO puts on an amazing show and should not be forgotten however, I don't believe they play to sold-out crowds unfortunately. There are actually alot of acts not already mentioned here that still sell-out shows...Jimmy Buffett's still going strong year after year, Toby Keith is a hot ticket this year, just to add some more names to the mix that immediately come to mind.

[Don]

So, Country music is doing well and a few big name acts despite all the doom and gloom.
James Taylor and Carol King are showing that their fans are pretty hardcore also.


Billboard
Ray Waddell


Cancelled shows and tours by usually reliable marquee artists like Christina Aguilera, the Eagles, U2 (due to Bono's back surgery), Sarah McLachlan's Lilith Fair, Rhianna, John Mayer, Limp Bizkit, and the Go-Go's seem to belie the fact that the live music business is taking a beating this summer. Multi-act festivals like Bamboozle and the Country Throwdown Tour pulled the plug on some dates, while other tours by what were considered hot acts are experiencing slumping sales, among them Jonas Brothers and Kings Of Leon, according to sources.

Rumblings of a tough year for touring began a couple of months ago, with predictions ranging from "mediocre" to "bloodbath." Two main culprits may be at fault in what is shaping up as possibly the worst summer for touring since the mid 1990s: ticket prices and traffic. At the center of the storm is Live Nation, which controls the majority of summer touring, particularly at the amphitheater level.

Ticket prices have been a thorn in the industry's side for years, and ticket prices are a direct function of how much the act is being paid. Live Nation's detractors say the company pays artists unreasonably high guarantees in order to gain market share and keep its amphitheaters programmed and tap into ancillary revenues like concessions, sponsorships and parking. When an estimated 70% of touring traffic occurs during the warm months, ticket prices become more sensitive, as fans are forced to make choices as to which shows they will see.

Another issue created by traffic is heavy schedules make it tougher for each show to get the kind of promotional attention necessary, whether it comes from the promoter's own efforts or media coverage.

Also coming into play is the fact that many if not most Live Nation shed tours are negotiated and booked out of the company's West Coast offices, without a lot of local input about which shows are programmed and how much an act is worth in a given market. An act that's worth $250,000 in Boston may be worth only $50,000 in Cleveland, which should be reflected in local ticket prices.

Another factor cited by insiders is ill-advised touring by artists who either don't have a new album or single out, or have made the rounds too many years in a row. Without a compelling reason to go see an act, whether it's absence from the marketplace or a hot album or single, fans may be deciding to sit this one out.

Finally, there seems to be a level of skepticism from consumers toward the concert industry, much of it relating to numerous ticket add-on fees or high ticket and concession prices in general.

There are live music successes. Coachella, Stagecoach, Jazzfest and Bonnaroo all have done quite well. Tours by acts like Lady GaGa, James Taylor/Carole King, and Roger Waters are performing solidly under Live Nation, as is its entire country roster of tours. AEG's Justin Bieber, Black Eyed Peas, Taylor Swift and Bon Jovi, are also doing sellout business.

[Andrew]

MRF2 also suffered.

[rockinfayrose]

Just curious - Is anyone here (other than myself ) going to see Meat Loaf during his current tour? Inquiring minds want to know...

[conversationpc]

The End of the Road?
The concert business, a lone bright spot in the struggling music industry, is in trouble this summer. A tale of bad backs, canceled acts and angry fans.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 09566.html

If you read the article, it basically says that unless the older acts are there, the younger acts cannot fill arenas. Well, I'd say about 5 years or so, the biggest bands are going to retire: U2, Springsteen, Petty, Bon Jovi and the Eagles. Then what? Journey and REO at the local community college gym? Nah, I'd say the classic rock acts will quit too. It just won't be worth it to tour.

Van Halen will tour again and they will certainly bring in big numbers.