Re: The Stones management need to have a look at themselves
Date: March 5, 2006 18:06
Lukester Wrote:
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> I agree my angry, Union Jack waving friend. Why
> don't they ever start a tour in the UK? I'm not
> that smart about such things. Gazza, what's up?
> What's your opinion of why snibbs 1234 feels
> snubbed? Why not the UK first? Is it the money
> thing again?
>
Yes. 100%..logistics also come into it, however (a US tour is simply easier to organise as you dont have to deal with multiple promoters and different regulations in each country) plus the fact that they can charge more money in the US and recoup the initial tour costs quicker. Worth also mentioning that the last tour ended in Europe...so the 'demand' would naturally be greater in a country that hasnt seen the band for a longer time.
its also why there are a higher proportion of US shows this time around and also why they dont play anything but stadiums in almost every other market.
Last tour they actually played a similar amount of shows in Europe than they did in North America (51 in North America (47 US/ 4 in Canada), 46 in Europe, 8 in Australia, 12 in Asia)
This time, its 55 in the US, 5 Canada, 1 P.Rico, 2 Mexico, 2 Argentina and 1 Brazil - with a mix of arena and stadium shows in North America (40 of the shows in North America have taken place in arenas, including the Puerto Rico show..there were only 19 stadium shows in the US/Canada)
Europe gets 35 shows this time - all of them stadiums - plus 5 in Japan, 4 in Australia/NZ and 1 in China (two arena shows - because it wasnt logistically possible to do stadiums - and 8 stadiums)
This tour is - even more than last time - quite more obviously geared towards going where the maximum profit is. They havent helped matters by doubling prices in many European markets to try and hike them to a similar level to US prices, which means sales have been slower in some countries as more people have smelled a rat - and making the tour a stadium-only tour.
The fact that South America (supposedly one of their favourite audiences) got such an insultingly tiny number of shows despite the overwhelming demand for tickets plus the fact that theres even talk of a short run of shows late in 2006 in a few major US markets proves this even further.
If the Stones tour again after 2006, I expect this trend to continue. Unless they can get away with charging non-US audiences what Americans pay for tickets, you'll see a smaller % of shows in future tours taking place outside the US. I would expect future tours to have a larger % of multiple night stands in a small, select number of financially lucrative markets (New York, Chicago, LA, Vegas etc). I would also be surprised if, after this tour, they play anywhere but North America, Europe or Japan again. The number of one night stands in out of the way places in this tour (plus the nostalgic, hits-orientated, type of shows theyre presenting) gives me the impression its a 'farewell' to many of the "B" and "C" markets.
The only way this trend will stop will be if the Stones completely change their touring habits and business ethic which is primarily driven by maximising profits - and re-invent themselves as a performing act a la Dylan, Springsteen, The Dead etc.
However, I think the die has been cast too long ago and thats never going to happen.