Live Concerts $$$

[method77]

A very good reason why artists don't care that much about filesharing and illegal cds is the following list.

Top money earned from concerts (2003)

1. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - $115.9m (He's still "The Boss")

2. Celine Dion - $80.5m

3. Eagles - $69.3m

4. Fleetwood Mac - $69m

5. Cher - $68.2m

6. Simon and Garfunkel - $64.5m

7. Aerosmith/Kiss - $64m

8. Dixie Chicks - $60.5m

9. Billy Joel/ Elton John - $50.9m

these amounts are from concerts in the USA ONLY! Wanna know the amount that The Rolling Stones (Sir Mick Jagger lol) earned from the international tour? $299.5m!

Edited December 30, 2003 by method77

[HolyMoly]

I think the figures would even be higher if they added in "incidentals." I don't know this for a fact but suspect that promotion companies bringing in these groups also provide hotel rooms, expense accounts, limos, etc. ... all comped ... for the stars and their road people. Heck, they might even comp airfare.

[spraymonkey]

Again corporate involvment is to blame.You can't go to a concert without budwieser or somebody getting a chunk.When I was a kid you could go to a killer show for 12.50-25.00 and you got cool stuff like lasers and fog machines.I think I paid 90 bucks apiece for nosebleed seats for The Eagles,the show would've been a complete loss if joe hadn't been a little buzzed.I saw Bruce too,that was a freebie(story for another post)he pretty much kicked ass,but would it have been as good from $125 nosebleeds.I give up on big dollar concerts.I'm going to see Blondie for $5 on saturday.PEACE!!!

[HolyMoly]

When I was a kid you could go to a killer show for 12.50-25.00 and you got cool stuff like lasers and fog machines.

There were no lasers or fog machines when I was a kid. Even so, when the Rolling Stones then-recent hit was "19th Nervous Breakdown," I got a 3rd row ticket to see them and two opening bands -- one local, the other Deep Purple -- for the whopping price of $3.50.

[spraymonkey]

DAMN!!!

[Kooperman]

Twenty to thirty years ago musicians made most of their money from their recordings and concert tours were loss leaders which hopefully would increase their record sales. Now that the RIAA members have become so adroit at cooking the books and choking off artist royalties, concerts have become a needed source of income.

[rainbowdemon]

Look at the corporate sponsorship on this one. I thought the price was a little high too. But it was a great show. These old farts can still rock!!