Summer Concerts Stage A Comeback
The Victoria Advocate, TX
March 24, 2005
This year, the concert industry is taking drastic steps to make music lovers feel welcome again. Some of those measures include revamping customer service and finding ways to improve the concertgoer's experience. More significant are moves to slash ticket prices.
"Everything is trending toward fan empowerment, or consumer empowerment," says Ray Waddell, a senior writer at Billboard magazine who tracks concerts....Now Clear Channel, the country's largest concert promoter, is taking action to lower the face value of tickets on its end. The company, which was unable to provide an executive for comment, announced that it will no longer charge a "facility fee" at its amphitheaters....At the annual Concert Industry Consortium conference, which was held in February, talk centered on how to improve customer service and make the concert experience more enjoyable.
Artists are taking some steps of their own to shore up sales by giving consumers more bands for their buck. Many musicians are resorting to the tried and true tactic of linking up with other groups that appeal to a similar demographic. Stevie Nicks and Don Henley are headlining a tour, as are Boston/Styx, Oasis/Jet, Judas Priest/Queensryche, and Def Leppard/Bryan Adams. There are also rumors of blockbuster pairings such as Audioslave/System of a Down, Van Halen/Aerosmith, and Kenny Chesney/Gretchen Wilson.
"People are a little bit gun-shy after last year, so there's nothing wrong with co-headlining with someone or building up your bill to offer more value," says Waddell. In all, he is optimistic that the industry can overcome its problems. "It's nothing that a hot tour, priced right, can't overcome."
March 24, 2005
This year, the concert industry is taking drastic steps to make music lovers feel welcome again. Some of those measures include revamping customer service and finding ways to improve the concertgoer's experience. More significant are moves to slash ticket prices.
"Everything is trending toward fan empowerment, or consumer empowerment," says Ray Waddell, a senior writer at Billboard magazine who tracks concerts....Now Clear Channel, the country's largest concert promoter, is taking action to lower the face value of tickets on its end. The company, which was unable to provide an executive for comment, announced that it will no longer charge a "facility fee" at its amphitheaters....At the annual Concert Industry Consortium conference, which was held in February, talk centered on how to improve customer service and make the concert experience more enjoyable.
Artists are taking some steps of their own to shore up sales by giving consumers more bands for their buck. Many musicians are resorting to the tried and true tactic of linking up with other groups that appeal to a similar demographic. Stevie Nicks and Don Henley are headlining a tour, as are Boston/Styx, Oasis/Jet, Judas Priest/Queensryche, and Def Leppard/Bryan Adams. There are also rumors of blockbuster pairings such as Audioslave/System of a Down, Van Halen/Aerosmith, and Kenny Chesney/Gretchen Wilson.
"People are a little bit gun-shy after last year, so there's nothing wrong with co-headlining with someone or building up your bill to offer more value," says Waddell. In all, he is optimistic that the industry can overcome its problems. "It's nothing that a hot tour, priced right, can't overcome."
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