Conventional wisdom is the entertainment business is recession-proof.  If you believe that, you probably believe Sarah Palin is our country’s foremost energy expert.

The movie business was hurt by the last recession.  But at least their prices are cheap.  Ours are stratospheric.

We’ve got high prices, a dearth of superstar talent and a financial meltdown.  Do you really think the concert business is going to emerge unscathed?

Yes, superstars will sell every ticket.  Then again, Madonna is not selling out, even though her handlers won’t say so.  You can get tickets for gigs.  People e-mail me the promotions.  And if Madonna can’t sell out, what are the odds for Joe Wannabe Band?

Historically the concert industry has been one of rugged individualism.  Run by independent acts and their agents.  To a great degree, this is still true.  But along the way, there was a great consolidation in concert promoters.  Instead of regional fiefdoms, we have the international giants and JAM and…some more indies.  It is time for all concert promoters to unite and tell the acts TICKET PRICES MUST COME DOWN!

The concert industry can’t fuck this up like the RIAA did with music sales.  The fan is the key to the business. The message has to be sent that the industry cares about the fan, that the fan is part of the process, and is welcomed into the tent.  True, this will be difficult with ticket holdbacks and the inability to get a good seat, but maybe now it’s time to be truthful about those scenarios too.  Posting online manifests of exactly what seats are available before the on sale date.  We need transparency and an olive branch, telling the consumer we’re rolling back prices as a payback, as a reward, as recognition of their loyalty.

Who’s going to pay those inflated prices for sports tickets?  Don’t use that analogy any longer.  The company with naming rights goes under and what happens when the corporation buying those insanely priced tickets and luxury boxes get trampled by Andrew Cuomo?  If AIG can’t rationalize a sales conference, what are the odds it will be able to rationalize entertaining its clients in luxury boxes?  What are the odds corporations now owned by the government will devour front row seats like Chiclets?  What are the odds that conspicuous consumption will be lauded as opposed to pelted with aural tomatoes?

Everybody knows ticket prices are too high and you can’t get one.  But, that’s only for a very few acts.  Can those acts sacrifice for the good of the public?  Can we all unite and lower prices?  Can acts and promoters reveal their TicketMaster kickbacks?  Is this an opportunity to air and clean the concert industry’s dirty laundry?

Absolutely.  Acts now have to be built on the road.  Concertgoing must be a regular activity.  I call on Michael Rapino to lead the charge, to bully the agents and managers.  And for a campaign that can run with every concert ad.  A logo that charms the ticket buyer as opposed to the FBI sticker on a CD.

The record industry fucked this up.  They thought happy times were going to last forever.  Instead, they’re never coming back.

Now it’s the concert industry’s turn.  True, you can’t steal a live show.  But you don’t have to go.  Certainly not if the act’s only had one hit and it’s going to cost you hundreds of dollars to go out for the night.  We’ve got to bring people in.

Apple’s success today is due to innovation during the last downturn.  The concert business shouldn’t be pulling back, but using this crisis as an opportunity to get people out of their houses and into theatres to get their minds off their problems.  For a fair price.  To see quality talent.

Your move.