Money is Tight, Music is Expensive
Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 12:01AM 
I don't care what Ben Bernanke says: America is in a recession. Anyone who works a real job bringing home an average wage can tell you that. Is the economy in trouble? Yes. Are times terrible? No, but they could get worse. Clearly the first things that go during an economic downturn are luxury items like new cars, vacations...and music. I don't just mean the physical purchase of recorded music either. I am talking about fans going to concerts and buying merchandise. When you have to choose between some groceries or a new Motley Crue shirt, I'm pretty sure you're going to go with milk and eggs. That being said - ticket prices continue to skyrocket to record levels. Yes, I'll be the first to lay down big bucks for an artist I've never seen before, but the show better be damn good. I refuse to pay top dollar for bands I can see every few years. When a diehard fan like me says "enough!" the music industry better realize it needs to brace for bad weather ahead.
The thing is, the recording industry has been in crisis for over a decade now. After the Metallica/Napster debacle, the major labels missed a real chance to investigate ways to make money off electronic music. People inherently know how to steal. MP3 players and iTunes helped curb some illegal downloading, but I know that as the recession gets worse music theft will rise. All that will do is hurt people like you and me who pay for music.
What else happens when people steal music? Musicians obviously lose money and then rely more on touring to survive. Ticket prices go up for all sorts of reasons: the artists need more money. The venues need more money to pay for events and staffing. Merch prices go up too. It's all a vicious circle.
I wonder if the music instrument industry is suffering? I don't consider instruments a luxury item - more of an educational necessity. Sure, instruments of all kinds are expensive, but learning music is an important part of a child's development. Studying music is just as important for adults.
Many of you know I am taking bass lessons. I like to think things are progressing nicely. Am I good? Not yet. Will I be? Perhaps with time. I know one thing: taking lessons and unlocking some of the mystery surrounding how to actually play a bass is fascinating. I love going to Guitar Center now and looking at the expensive guitars. There are so many different shapes and styles to choose from - with varying price ranges.
Guitar Center just introduced the Slash Les Paul. From what I gather there are four options, ranging from a signed, custom aged model to an Epiphone signature. The signed one costs 10 thousand bucks - the Epiphone is a thousand. Being of average income, I can't imagine ever dropping 10 thousand on a guitar - but this one does come with a certificate of authenticity signed by Slash himself. I can only imagine what such a quality instrument would sound like...
Back here on planet reality, there are a lot of guitar manufacturers spreading their wings and adding innovative style to traditional instruments. I am a big fan of Daisy Rock. Better known as the guitar company for girls, Daisy Rock makes quality instruments at the right weight and proportions for a woman's body. It doesn't hurt that most are also pink with sparkles. While browsing online I also found a Traben Bootsy in the shape of a star! Two grand is out of my league plus I think it would be hard to play an odd shaped instrument. Still, if you've got the chops I bet you'd look pretty cool on stage.
I always like when Glam musicians play odd shaped instruments. Blackie Lawless and Bobby Dall both play big basses with harsh edges. In fact, Bobby's pointy green bass is his trademark. He's been playing that bass for twenty years now -so I guess instruments in odd shapes isn't a new thing, maybe just more common. Definitely more expensive.
Recently, I've come across quite a few message board posts about ticket prices "back in the day." These musical soothsayers speak of the days gone by when you could catch a concert - featuring a band like Van Halen - for under ten bucks. Tell me: what's the cheapest you ever paid to see an arena band?
Reader Comments (31)
WASP charged just under $100 AUD and Whitesnake charged $126 AUD. I guess the prices no matter how fluctuated they me be to the true metal fan in Australia it does not realy matter as we are just greatful to see these guys on our own shore that we will pay whatever it takes.
$15 for Van Halen 5150 tour w/BTO ('86)
$16.50 for Bon Jovi w/Cinderella ('86)
Highest I've paid.....I've easily clipped the $100 mark to see KISS several times and I shelled out $150 so my wife could see Jimmy Buffett, she flew solo on that one!
Steve
Heavy Metal Addiction
http://hardrockheavymetal.wordpress.com/
-Rp-
And for the record, I'd go hungry if I had to, to get to a show I wanted to see. But, like Billy said, too, here in AU, the tours are so rare, that you get to them, no matter what.
I'd feel better about paying those kinds of prices if my bands would come closer to my home! By the time we figure in hotel, food, gas and then the ticket price (plus the obligatory t-shirt), it's just too expensive. Plus, I don't get paid time off so if the show is during the week, I can't afford to take a day or two to travel.
Rant over... ;)
>^..^<
The last KISS concert I attended in the ealry '00's was $88.00. What a difference!
Hollpass!
Back in the day you could buy your ticket and t-shirt for about $30, times have changed.
The most I have ever paid is my Rocklahome tickets for last year and this year, they were around $350.
Great article, you spot on with this one!!!!!!!!!!
I love Daisy Rock, by the by. I've got a purple Pixie acoustic/electric from them and I'm dying to get that pink Rock Candy.
While the Fed continues to debase our dollar by infusing more money into our system, one can see the effects of the buying power of our dollar continues to decline. Today's dollar is only worth 83¢ compared to the dollar of 2001, when George W. Bush got into office.
The declining dollar means that it takes more to buy the same thing it did x amount of years ago. While the weaken dollar boost our exports, it also makes imports more expensive. My father has a paycheck from 1977 when he first began working at the place he works now and was making $4.25 and hour. While he makes more money today, the value is similar to the money in 1977.
If there was not such a demand for concerts, then venues would be forced to lower ticket prices or lose money. I believe there is much more to examine in the price of a ticket. I hate that it costs so much, which is a reason I haven't attended more concerts. Hopefully, we don't devalue our dollar until it's more expensive to print them than they are actually worth.
As for the cheapest arena show I've seen...it may have been Jackyl in their prime when they played a free show at Hara Arena in Dayton. Other than that, I think I've always paid $15 or more to see an arena show. My brother paid $13.50 to see Motley Crue on the Theater of Pain tour, and I'm sure it was worth every cent!
PS - Kudos to you for referring to musical instuments as an "educational necessity." I'm a huge advocate for supporting music in schools. If it wasn't for learning to play a musical instrument, I would have been lost in school. I've been playing violin since 6th grade, and I'm so thankful for being blessed with what little musical talent I have. It enriches lives, young and old. I firmly believe that. And good for you for taking bass lessons! You're never too old to learn. Good luck! :)
Hey ReptilBlvd - I drove from Columbus, OH to Lapeer, MI to see that Skid Row show this past summer! :)