Posted on 11/20/2022 11:32:11 AM PST by nickcarraway
The Boss's rationale for gouging hardcore fans sounds as tone deaf as possible Photo of Christian Toto Christian Toto Send an email2 days ago
Taylor Swift is only 32, but she’s shrewd enough to take her fans’ side in the latest Ticketmaster imbroglio.
The pop princess raged against the ticketing giant after fans struggled to gobble up passes for her 2023 tour.
“I’m not going to make excuses for anyone because we asked them, multiple times, if they could handle this kind of demand and we were assured they could. It’s truly amazing that 2.4 million people got tickets, but it really pisses me off that a lot of them feel like they went through several bear attacks to get them.”
Bruce Springsteen, a 73-year-old rock legend with decades in the business, had a different reaction when fans balked at the sky-high prices for his upcoming tour.
I consent to receiving emails and personalized ads. I’m worth it. And it took him months to say just that.
The Springsteen kerfuffle kicked off in July when sales for his 2023 tour opened via, what else, Ticketmaster and its “dynamic pricing” model.
[Fans] found tickets going for as much as $4,000-5,000 for mid-range floor seats, and into the four-figures for other, less desirable tickets that remained.
The outrage was real and sustained, but Springsteen remained mum on the matter. The blue-collar bard couldn’t spare a public syllable on the subject, leaving his manager to speak for him.
“We chose prices that are lower than some and on par with others. Regardless of the commentary about a modest number of tickets costing $1,000 or more, our true average ticket price has been in the mid-$200 range. I believe that in today’s environment, that is a fair price to see someone universally regarded as among the very greatest artists of his generation.”
Now, finally, Springsteen addressed the subject directly via Rolling Stone magazine.
The rocker said he generally tries to assess what his peers charge for concerts and lower the rates a bit from there. Now, he’s had a change of heart.
This time I told them, ‘Hey, we’re 73 years old. The guys are there. I want to do what everybody else is doing, my peers.’ So that’s what happened. That’s what they did.
He continued, saying many prices are “totally affordable”
The ticket broker or someone is going to be taking that money. I’m going, ‘Hey, why shouldn’t that money go to the guys that are going to be up there sweating three hours a night for it?’
To soften the blow he’s offering a money-back guarantee.
Springsteen’s populism is well known, at least on paper. His classic tunes have connected with the common man, forging a steel-like bond with his base. It’s been an integral part of his brand for decades.
Now, in his 70s, he’s eager to scoop up as much cash as possible at a time when the average American is pounded by a recession-like economy and soaring inflation rates. He recently peddled his songbook for a whopping $550 million.
Now, he’s looking to cash in anew, but this time it’s his hardcore fans who are picking up the tab. That naked greed may forever taint his legacy, not to mention his progressive bona fides.
I never read his music as pro-blue-collar. It’s just maisanthropic.
“Grift Griftsteen”, because he’s BETTER than you, peasant.
Boring in the USA.
His whole blue collar working class NJ schtick was always a phony marketing ploy.
He was always a fake. Somebody just now noticed?
Another crack shot, right between Brucie's eyes! :)
When I saw him at the Cap Center in the late 70s, the tickets were $28.
He’s obviously planning on taking his money and all of his stuff when he passes. Likely believes he can get some prime real estate and big gigs later.
Now I’ll have “Point Blank” stuck in my head all day.
Thanks.
:P
could never understand how he got to be famous...his music, personality su***.
He was never blue collar. It was just part of his shtick.
And a lousy, lousy singer; and mediocre songwriter.
Wouldn’t go for free.
That was a lot for then wasn’t it? I remember tickets still being $20 into the 90’s, but maybe I was going to smaller venues.
GFYS Springsteen
He went out for a ride and he never went back.
The Boss never had a real job.
The ticket broker or someone is going to be taking that money. I’m going, ‘Hey, why shouldn’t that money go to the guys that are going to be up there sweating three hours a night for it?’ …Well, maybe you should have had Peter Grant as your manager, Brucie. He negotiated a 90/10 split of gross ticket receipts in favor of Led Zeppelin . . . but then again, they guaranteed a sellout at every venue, and could you do that back in the day?
People aren’t buying records/tapes/cds anymore, so this is how musical acts make their money.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.