Live Nation/Citi
Why don’t they just make the concerts free!
Okay, if I want to go to the show, I’ve got to get not only a Citibank card, but an Amex. And I’ve got to join the fan club too. So in this rolling wave of pre-sales, maybe I can get a seat. Which won’t be too close to the stage, because those seats NEVER go on sale to the general public!
And Live Nation is rebranding all of its smaller venues "Fillmore", to trade on the good will of the man who helped build this glorious business. Bill Graham is rolling in his grave. Live Nation doesn’t give a shit about the public, and neither do the Police.
As for the band, rather than leave a good taste in the public’s mouth, they want to eke every last dollar from the landscape with a scorched earth policy. And if you believe this is the band’s last tour, then you’re betting that one of the three croaks in the dead pool. Because money will bring them back. Are you aware of Sting’s OVERHEAD? And the other two, while not homeless, can’t make a dollar on the road without Mr. Sumner.
We need a concertgoers bill of rights. What can it contain?
Well, let’s start off with a seating plan that illustrates which seats never go on sale, so people won’t buy fan club memberships in hope of buying these ducats.
A rebate if the final tour is not. Or guaranteed seats up close and personal if the band goes back on the road.
No t-shirt over $25.
No parking fee unless you’re in an urban center. Even if the lot is paved. Unless space is at a premium, parking is free!
Fan club fees must guarantee a seat within a certain area of the building. So people know what they’re getting.
One on sale date. No rolling dates based on privilege. Isn’t this what’s wrong with America? The division between the haves and the have-nots? Not everybody can afford an American Express card. Not everyone QUALIFIES for a Citibank card. Even if you have the cash, you might be shit out of luck. You end up sitting in the back no matter what.
No seat over $125. I’d say $100, but the industry would freak out. As for prices higher than that, those seats must be auctioned from the get go. The act can reap the reward of the upside, but it must be clear what seats are auctioned and how many of them there are, so the fan can make an informed decision.
But Live Nation doesn’t give a shit about the fan. Live Nation is as bad as radio. Live Nation is playing to Wall Street, not the concertgoer. Just like Clear Channel is playing to Madison Avenue, despite lip service to the listener. Hell, did you see that Clear Channel is increasing the number of minutes of advertising on the radio? Why not turn every station into an infomercial. Make the whole CHANNEL an ad!
And you wonder why terrestrial radio is dying and the concert business is a minefield. Grosses might be going up, but the key is to get people in the habit of attendance. That’s how you grow the business. But we’ve got the labels not wanting any more people to own music than in the CD days. New technologies allow more people to own more music at a lower price? FOUL! We’re married to the old business model!
The music business is fucked up. If you’ don’t believe this, you’re part of the problem.
