Gold dust woman justifies the high price of a Fleetwood Mac Concert

[MacMan]

Gold dust woman justifies the high price of a Fleetwood Mac concert

BRAD WHEELER
From Thursday's Globe and Mail
February 11, 2009

“We wish we didn't have to charge anything,” says Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac singer. “We wish we could go out and play. That's what we do – we're performance artists.”

Rock on, gold dust woman. During a teleconference Tuesday, Nicks and her fellow Mac mates were chatting up their upcoming North American tour (which kicks off March 1 in Pittsburgh, with dates in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver to follow) when the subject of ticket prices came up. Fleetwood Mac, legendary for its rock-star indulgences in its prime, charge up to $149.50 for top seats in Toronto.

“The price of life in general is a gazillion dollars more than it was four years ago,” reasoned Nicks, not an economist. The British/Californian band's most recent tour wrapped up in 2004. “Our emotions are about trying to do this in the best way that makes sense for our audience,” chimed in drummer Mick Fleetwood, “and in a way that we can get to our audience.”

Ticket prices and ticket distribution are a touchy subject these days. A $510-million Canadian class-action suit filed this week alleges that Ticketmaster and subsidiary TicketsNow.com are conspiring to hold seats from the public and reselling the tickets at a higher prices – seemingly a violation of anti-scalping laws

Those looking for Fleetwood Mac seats for the Air Canada Centre show on Ticketmaster.ca are able to pay face value, but also are offered “Official Platinum Seats” at the site's Marketplace, where concertgoers can purchase premium seats at inflated values – as much as $800 a ticket.

The band is represented by Irving Azoff, who also happens to be chief executive officer of Ticketmaster Entertainment, and will become executive chairman of Live Nation Entertainment if the just-announced merger of Ticketmaster and concert promoters Live Nation goes through. Asked about any unsavoury ticket-selling practices involving Fleetwood Mac, Nicks promised she would be “making phone calls” on the matter.

Nicks went to say that tour's “Unleashed” title refers to the unleashing of the band's furies “back into the universe.” Asked if the public would be able to handle all the pent-up rage, Nicks answered in the affirmative, but cautioned that fans might need to bring their “armour.”

That, and their gold card.

[BTFLCHLD]

Originally Posted by MacMan

[SIZE="5"][B] Asked about any unsavoury ticket-selling practices involving Fleetwood Mac, Nicks promised she would be “making phone calls” on the matter.

priceless.

thanks macman.

[Nicks Fan]

Such a shame that they want us to believe that they really do this for the love of the music and not the almighty dollar.

Matt

[LukeA]

This just gets better and better

I wish we had a recording of the call!

[kennation]

Originally Posted by LukeA

This just gets better and better

I wish we had a recording of the call!

ME TOO! I would like to hear exactly what type of tones were used. So why is it that they wouldn't give VIP passes, FOR FREE, to people who are making shirts to honor their band? If they want to reach the fans and give something to the fans... then start handing some stuff out.

[BTFLCHLD]

Originally Posted by kennation

ME TOO! I would like to hear exactly what type of tones were used. So why is it that they wouldn't give VIP passes, FOR FREE, to people who are making shirts to honor their band? If they want to reach the fans and give something to the fans... then start handing some stuff out.

ken, you may want to read that entire t-shirt thread to come to an understanding that FM will not be selling the 'winner' shirt at the venues...the shirts will be sold through the website designbyhumans. FM may have lent their name for use in the 'contest' but read between the lines...FM is not running that program.

[kennation]

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

ken, you may want to read that entire t-shirt thread to come to an understanding that FM will not be selling the 'winner' shirt at the venues...the shirts will be sold through the website designbyhumans. FM may have lent their name for use in the 'contest' but read between the lines...FM is not running that program.

Right, and that is totally understood. I read that first thing when littledemon posted it. My point was that there is still a fan, out there, who is putting time and effort into something they hope would please FM... that means something- to me, at least.

[BTFLCHLD]

Originally Posted by kennation

Right, and that is totally understood. I read that first thing when littledemon posted it. My point was that there is still a fan, out there, who is putting time and effort into something they hope would please FM... that means something- to me, at least.

right, but bottomline those submitting are doing it to please themselves, other FM fans, graphic artists galore, random internet seeks, and those at designbyhumans. How is it FMs fault someone misunderstood what designbyhumans was/is offering? Seems to me designmyhumans would be at fault for not making more clear to the average reader what exactly that contest was/is all about. You were under impression FM would be selling tshirts, giving away backstage passes, prizes, etc, am I correct?

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by LukeA

I wish we had a recording of the call!

I'd even take a transcript of the whole thing, as opposed to just the choice excerpts we've been getting.

The idea that Stevie is going to be making phone calls is simply hilarious.

There are going to be some antitrust hearings on this deal. Stevie should testify before Congress.

Michele

[kennation]

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

right, but bottomline those submitting are doing it to please themselves, other FM fans, graphic artists galore, random internet seeks, and those at designbyhumans. How is it FMs fault someone misunderstood what designbyhumans was/is offering? Seems to me designmyhumans would be at fault for not making more clear to the average reader what exactly that contest was/is all about. You were under impression FM would be selling tshirts, giving away backstage passes, prizes, etc, am I correct?

Nope- I know what the deal is now. Initially, you would win the backstage passes (With no mention of M&G.) So... Now it's itunes money??? Anyway, it's shocking that FM wouldn't do a little something more than lend their name. Honestly, I am almost over it, but it eats my lunch that they give an illusion that they are all about the fans, but...

[melodicrocker]

Have any of the shows sold out yet?

FM might just be paying the price themselves for the high ticket prices.

[Regina]

Originally Posted by melodicrocker

Have any of the shows sold out yet?

FM might just be paying the price themselves for the high ticket prices.

I would think not because there are so many tickets being held back by Tickets.now, ticketmaster's "premium" tickets, and the scalpers. I don't think All Access holds back that many.

I've been looking for a single floor seat (a good one, admittedly) since it's gone on sale. I think, the first few days, there were bad floor seats available--now (and for the past 6 or 7 weeks), it says nothing is available. But, that's not true. There are plenty. Just not being released.

[CADreaming]

Originally Posted by michelej1

I'd even take a transcript of the whole thing, as opposed to just the choice excerpts we've been getting.

The idea that Stevie is going to be making phone calls is simply hilarious.

There are going to be some antitrust hearings on this deal. Stevie should testify before Congress.

Michele

No, please don't. She does not need to get up there and do the hippie speak before Congress...I can just see her telling them how her fury has been unleashed and thrown her out of the universe...

[LukeA]

Originally Posted by Regina

I would think not because there are so many tickets being held back by Tickets.now, ticketmaster's "premium" tickets, and the scalpers.

No tickets are being "held back" by Ticketsnow- the tickets listed on Ticketsnow were purchased (mostly by brokers and scalpers, yes, but purchased all the same) and are not eligible to be returned.

[Regina]

Originally Posted by LukeA

No tickets are being "held back" by Ticketsnow- the tickets listed on Ticketsnow were purchased (mostly by brokers and scalpers, yes, but purchased all the same) and are not eligible to be returned.

Yes, but Ticketsnow is part of ticketmaster, no? And ticketMASTER is sure not releasing everything.
I don't know. It seems as if I've seen broker seats being thrown back in the pot, on ocassion.
If not, I guess there might very well be a lot of empty seats in the place.