Live Nation, the evil touring behemoth which controls much of the US and UK touring circuit and is attempting to muscle in to the Australian market, appears to be battening down the hatches for a brutal summer of touring in the US. Respected industry commentator Bob Lefsetz is claiming that Live Nation – which controls much of the amphitheatre and stadium circuit in the US, has cancelled up to 200 shows, while even tours for normally hot artists like Kings of Leon are experiencing sluggish sales. While some pundits dispute the claims, others suggest that ticket prices which Live Nation has seriously inflated over recent years are beginning to bite, as well as the saturated nature of the touring circuit, as artists stay on the road to keep money coming in, in the absence of album sales.
Live Nation, which pays high guarantees to top acts to retain market share, has been accused of neglecting to research local markets with bookers in Los Angeles overestimating the appeal of a hipster band in Buttfuck, Alabama; and punters in bigger markets deciding to sit out tours by artistsas ticket prices and venue add-ons bite. Live Nation needs to keep artists touring to keep the money flowing in but without a new album to promote, market forces are deciding that fans are going to stay home.
