The three band canundrum

[styxfanNH]

Petty has been true to himself and his fans for over what, 30 years? Petty has been Petty from day 1. He's still jamming with Benmont Tench, Mike Campbell and a few other original guys. No gimmicks with him, just rock. Look at Bon Jovi. Same thing. They're not on package tours with three bands and a combined 7 original members. And what are they filling this summer in the US? Football stadiums, and no, it's not selling well because Kid Rock is opening. He only draws about 500 fans a show.

I think it's ego. Some of those bands don't want to accept the fact they are has-beens and should just start playing festivals. My buddy and I were actually talking about this on the way home from Night Ranger tonight. How many appealing Styx/Foreigner/Kansas type tours can really be that exciting as time passes?

Actually the three band concert is a realization of what they are. Unable to fill a venue by themselves, but able to get fans of similar music genres that collectively can - or at least able to fill the venues to acceptable levels.

Petty can still do similar venues justice because he is the face of the band and the only lead singer. Without question, in most cases, a band is identified by it's lead singer.

This in part why Styx alienates some fans (Dennis) and at the same time can continue with others (Tommy and JY). Foreigner has the same issue with Lou gone.

However, add the fact that Petty still continues to churn out new music - even though he is giving it away for free with each ticket purchase - that satisfies the diehards while continuing the never ending hit machine at the concerts and giving concert goers exposure to the new stuff when they play a song or two live.

Forget Kansas, Styx and Foreigner alone will fill 2500 - 5000 seat venues with any quality opening act. Put them together and you get the 5000 - 10000 seat venues because of the crossover casual fans and those that like the genre of music.

But Styx has been very successful with these triple play bills and until they don't sell, they will continue them.

[Archetype]

Are attendance figures for the United In Rock shows available anywhere? The First Niagara Pavilion holds around 23,000 people. 7,100 in seats and roughly 16,000 in the lawn. I'd say that 7,000 seats were filled and the lawn looked PACKED.

[styxfanNH]

Archie,
My above post is speaking in generalities. There numbers will obviously vhange based on the market.

[styxfanNH]

This is from an article about soft concert ticket sales

Live Nation agreed to pay rocker Tom Petty up to $700,000 per concert for his current tour with the Heartbreakers, according to people familiar with the situation. That contributed to the highest ticket prices that Mr. Petty has commanded in his 40-year career. They ranged from about $35 for lawn tickets to $125 for closer seats, and up to $300 each for the "Mojo Package," which included VIP parking and a download of Mr. Petty's album "Mojo."

Some fans of Mr. Petty, a workingman's rocker, expressed bitterness about the prices online. A fan calling himself Unocrew complained online: "I was fortunate enough to see Petty front row (2001) and 4th row (2002) - price for the tix were around 60 bucks. Now 300+...Way to hook up the fans buddy!"

A representative for Mr. Petty said, "The tour is selling better than most, and fans are getting a lot of value for their ticket, with a free album download and opening acts like Crosby, Stills and Nash." Live Nation declined to comment on specific artists or tours.

[Boomchild]

This is from an article about soft concert ticket sales
A representative for Mr. Petty said, "The tour is selling better than most, and fans are getting a lot of value for their ticket, with a free album download and opening acts like Crosby, Stills and Nash." Live Nation declined to comment on specific artists or tours.

Wow, I wonder what this person thinks Petty's latest album is worth.

[styxfanNH]

Isn't iTunes still $10 or $12 an album?

[styxfanNH]

or here is an excerpt from another article. This one blew me away.

If you thought the life of most musicians was comparable to the blissful and blinged-out existences of Kanye and Rihanna, you've clearly not heard much about our ever-desiccating music industry. According to the latest Nielsen research, only 2.1 percent of the albums released in 2009 sold even 5,000 copies -- that's just 2,050 records out of nearly 100,000, and to fewer people than go to a small liberal arts college.

[bugsymalone]

or here is an excerpt from another article. This one blew me away.

If you thought the life of most musicians was comparable to the blissful and blinged-out existences of Kanye and Rihanna, you've clearly not heard much about our ever-desiccating music industry. According to the latest Nielsen research, only 2.1 percent of the albums released in 2009 sold even 5,000 copies -- that's just 2,050 records out of nearly 100,000, and to fewer people than go to a small liberal arts college.

http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... hp?t=47470



Bugsy

[Abitaman]

I picked up Petty's new cd last week. It is very good. One of his better in a decade.