I’ve stopped going to large stadium shows for the most part a good while ago. It’s just getting ridiculous. Most of the best shows I’ve ever been at have all been in smaller venues anyway…
I got to meet Nappy Roots a while ago at a venue so small they didn’t even have a green room.
There was a backdoor to a parking lot the artists used, the door is on the opposite wall from the bathrooms.
Came out in a rush so I wouldn’t miss the start, and all of them were just chilling in the hallway because they were about to walk up.
I stopped paying Live Nation years ago, and I think others have as well.
Many of those tours are being sold through Ticketmaster and its parent Live Nation. And prior to facing landmark accusations that it is a monopoly, a claim it denies, Live Nation reported its biggest first quarter ever, with $3.8 billion in revenues. Its concerts business alone was up 26% to $2.9 billion, while “estimated fans” globally were up more than 20%, and up 42% in North America.
This is the natural result of unregulated capitalism.
They have the monopoly now, so they’ll keep raising prices even if it means they stop selling out.
It’s the profit margin that matters, so like rent prices it might be better for the company to leave some sitting on the table.
Especially with concerts where scalpers but everything and then resale. Live Nation isn’t not selling tickets, scalpers are buying them and then not offloading them.
I played in a (very local) band as a young adult and got to open for a couple of my favorite bands of the time (HC/*core scene of late 00s). It was great. The best show I’ve ever opened for was also my favorite show of all time, room was tiny but packed from the first second of the set. Just hanging out around the door and you’d be talking with some band members, most of the time.
You don’t have to convince me with regards to late-stage capitalism, rest assured…
