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KID ROCK CONTINUES ON HIS QUEST TO LOWER CONCERT PRICES BY SCALPING TICKETS

Kid Rock is a scalper.

The 42-year-old Grammy winner, who is launching a summer tour where most tickets are priced at $20, said he’s scalping about 1,000 tickets from each show to make up for the cheaper regular price.

“I’m in the scalping business, but you know what? We told everyone. A lot of artists have been doing this for years behind fans’ backs, taking all these backdoor deals,” he said. “We look at StubHub and other places and see what they’re selling them for and we just undercut them.”

Kid Rock’s $20 Best Night Ever Tour begins June 28th in Bristow, Va., and the Detroit native, who released his debut album in 1990, said he likely scalped secretly on past tours.

“I’m sure we have,” he said. “I can’t say for sure, but I’m not going to say that we haven’t. I wouldn’t be surprised if we did.”

Kid Rock’s discount ticket pricing is leading a change in tours where scalpers play a major role as the marketplace for secondary sources for tickets continues to grow, especially in a summer when key acts like The Rolling Stones, Beyonce, Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z are on the road.

Ticketmaster’s North American President Jared Smith said Kid Rock’s deal, which he completed with Ticketmaster partner Live Nation, is a first of more to come, though they might not be as risky as Kid Rock’s plan, which also includes $4 draft beers and $20 T-shirts.

“I absolutely believe that we’re starting to see the real acceleration of some really healthy things in pricing that are going to create new opportunities for fans to come and experience it in a really special way,” Smith said.

A small way that artists have been able to control scalping is through paperless tickets, which only allows the buyers of the tickets to use them at shows and are not allowed to resell them. Smith said paperless tickets, which launched five years ago, accounts for “about 1 percent” of the tickets at Ticketmaster.

“It hasn’t grown necessarily as a percentage of the total tickets that we sell, but we certainly see more artists employing it,” Smith said. “When it really first started, it was kind of looked at as a tool to use across the entire seats in the arena, but it’s really become a tool for the best seats in the house. Increasingly we see artists using it very, very targeted for like the top 500 seats in the house or the top 1,000 seats.”

Bruce Springsteen, Keith Urban, New Kids on the Block, Radiohead, Rascal Flatts, Selena Gomez, Muse, Miley Cryus, Iron Maiden, Atoms for Peace and Eric Church are among the acts using paperless tickets.

StubHub, the largest reseller of tickets, said business is booming thanks to the top acts on the road as well as summer festivals. But the company, which has a partnership with AEG, knows the idea of paperless tickets hurts their business.

“That limits a person’s right to resell or transfer or to just give away their ticket. We do not support that because we believe in a fan’s right to do whatever they want with their tickets,” said Alison Salcedo, the head of U.S. Communications for StubHub. Fan Freedom, an organization that supports the rights of ticket holders, echoed StubHub’s thoughts on paperless tickets.

“I don’t see any reason why nontransferable tickets need to be the solution,” said Joe Potter, the CEO of Fan Freedom, which is financially supported by StubHub. “Scalpers get tickets through pre-sale and fan club memberships.”

Ticketmaster isn’t against the idea of reselling tickets, in fact they resell concert tickets online.

“More often or not tickets are underpriced, that’s why you see so much resell activity,” Smith said. “What we try to do is make sure it’s done very transparently.”

Ticket holders are allowed to sell tickets at any price on sites like StubHub and ticketsnow.com, that’s why Kid Rock isn’t selling tickets for the first two rows at his shows. He’s randomly pulling fans from the nose bleed sections to enjoy his concert from the venue’s best view. And the first 20 rows at his shows are seats offered through paperless ticketing.

“We really don’t know what we’re going to make yet. We were doing estimates on it and they’re already going through a lot of these numbers, and it looks like it’s going to be a good summer,” he said of what his potential tour earnings.

Kid Rock, whose tour openers include ZZ Top, Uncle Kracker and Kool and the Gang, is playing the same venues he’s performed at in the past, but he said he’s filling up more seats and selling tickets faster. Even scalpers have approached the performer to cut deals.

“I’ve had people in the scalping business come at me already and try to make side deals like, ‘I can make you thousands of dollars, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash if you’ll just flip a few of these tickets our way for certain shows,'” he recalled.

Read more at Billboard.

Related articles:

KID ROCK SELLING $20 CONCERT TICKETS, SAYS HE WOULD LIKE OTHER ARTISTS TO FOLLOW SUIT

Primary source: Associated Press

BLACK SABBATH’S IOMMI EXPLAINS WHY HIS CANCER DIAGNOSIS STOPPED THE BAND’S NEGOTIATIONS WITH DRUMMER BILL WARD

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi pulled the plug on negotiations with Bill Ward because he feared he was running out of time to make the band’s reunion album.

The guitarist was diagnosed with cancer soon after the band announced plans to make their first record with Ozzy Osbourne since 1978.

With memories of Ronnie James Dio’s death in his mind, he decided he couldn’t continue negotiations with drummer Ward, who said he hadn’t been offered a contract he regarded as “signable.”

Iommi tells Guitar World, “Once I heard ‘cancerous lymphoma,’ I thought, ‘That’s it. I’ve had it.’ We waited a long time for Bill and we wanted to sort it out. But at the end of the day, especially after I was diagnosed, I thought, ‘Fucking hell, that’s it – we’ve got to get a move on. I might pop off next year!’

“So I emailed him and said, ‘Bill, we can’t wait any longer. We’ve got to get on with it.’ And that was it.”

Iommi recently credited Osbourne with persuading him to see a specialist, leading to the discovery of his cancer in time for successful treatment. The guitarist says, “I asked the doctor, ‘Is it okay if I work?’ He said, ‘Yes – you’ve just got to be careful.’ So I’d go in the studio and play for a bit. Then I’d get tired and I’d have to sit down. The guys would tell me not to push it.”

Osbourne commented, “He was a soldier and marched on – he still had more riffs coming out of him than anyone. We all rallied around him, but it’s not like we’d be saying, ‘Are you okay, are you okay?’”

Bassist Geezer Butler added, “It brought up how we’re all mortal beings and we aren’t here for ever. Tony and I were on the Heaven and Hell tour with Ronnie – and six months later Ronnie was dead. When Tony got the cancer, obviously that was in his mind.

“So it was like, let’s get the album done at all costs, as long as Tony’s up to it. It didn’t affect his playing at all – in fact, I think it really encouraged him and kept his mind off the cancer, which is the best thing you can possibly do.”

Black Sabbath’s 13 will be released on will be released on June 11th.

Black Sabbath North American Tour Dates

Jul 25th Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Jul 27th Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center
Jul 29th Tampa, FL Live Nation Amphitheatre
Jul 31st W. Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre

Aug 2nd Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
Aug 4th Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
Aug 6th Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
Aug 8th Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
Aug 10th Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
Aug 12th Boston, MA Comcast Center
Aug 14th Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
Aug 16th Tinley Park, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Aug 18th Indianapolis, IN Klipsch Music Center
Aug 22nd Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
Aug 24th Seattle, WA Gorge Amphitheatre
Aug 26th San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View
Aug 28th Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Aug 30th Phoenix, AZ US Airways Center

Sep 1st Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena
Sep 3rd Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Sports Arena

*Previously announced date.
^On sale Friday, May 3rd
+On sale Saturday, May 4th
~On sale, Friday May 10th
>On sale TBD

additional source: classicrockmagazine.com

TRAILER FOR METALLICA’S 3D FILM “METALLICA THROUGH THE NEVER” POSTED ONLINE

The official trailer for Metallica’s 3D concert film, Metallica Through the Never, can be viewed below.

Directed by Hungarian director Nimród Antal, the film was said to blends concert footage from three shows filmed in Vancouver last August with a narrative arc featuring the actor Dane DeHaan playing a fictional member of the band’s road crew.

Metallica Through the Never will be released exclusively in IMAX on September 27th before opening in theaters everywhere on October 4th.

JASON NEWSTED SAID HIS NEW ALBUM WILL BE “ALL METAL ALL THE TIME”

Gary Graff of Billboard reports:

He was particular affected by his guest appearance during Metallica’s 30th anniversary shows during late 2011 in San Francisco. “That was really a catalyst for all this,” Newsted acknowledges. “I hadn’t really been among the people for a long time. I’ve never gone to see a Metallica show or anything since I left the band (in 2001). So when I did that show, people were so happy to see me, I was overwhelmed. I didn’t realize people cared that much anymore. I was catapulted back into it by their interest — I guess that’s what it comes down to. It’s an amazing feeling, an overwhelmingly positive vibe from everybody.”

The Newsted band — which includes guitarists Mike Mushok of Staind and Jessie Farnsworth, and drummer Jesus Mendez, Jr.-released the four-song Metal EP in January. Newsted says he’s “nervously excited” about being the frontman and namesake for the group, but he also feels it will mitigate any confusion over what fans can expect from the music. “I figured if I was going to go back out and use the money I earned in Metallica to make the band happen and be all the way in it, I don’t want there to be any mistakes or confusion over what’s coming,” he explains. “I want to make sure everybody knows what this is. I don’t have time for anybody to have to figure out what this band is about. With my name on it, there’s no confusion; this is metal, heavy metal music. People know what they’re going to get.”

Newsted says the 13-song album, which he hopes to finish during August and have out in early September, will follow suit. “The EP was always intended to be the primer, a sampler of what was to come on the LP,” he says. “It’s all metal all the time. It’s not all fast, but it is all heavy.”

Meanwhile, the band has a busy spate of touring lined up, including a few of its own club dates, festivals in Europe and a run on Megadeth’s Gigantour starting July 3rd in Gilford, N.H. “It’s mostly Newsted music, but we pepper it up with a couple of things,” Newsted says. “I throw in some old Metallica stuff, a couple pieces here and there that I sang or had some voice in — Creeping Death, Whiplash, Blackened and so forth. I try to throw a few things in depending on how people are reacting.” Once the album is out, he’s anticipating a “regular cycle” of touring to promote it.

Watch Newsted’s video for Soldierhead below.

source: billboard.com

“THAT METAL SHOW” SEASON 12 PREMIERES ON JUNE 1ST

– It’s time to get metaled up. VH1 Classic’s centerpiece in original programming, That Metal Show is returning for its 12th season. The acclaimed hard rock and heavy metal talk show hosted by Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson, and Jim Florentine kicks off the latest season on Saturday, June 1st at 11:00PM ET/PT.

That Metal Show is back with fan-favorite segments like Stump The Trunk and The Vault, but will also feature some new additions this season: Metal Modem features an online video chat with the biggest names in metal and hard rock from the far reaches of the globe, Take It Or Leave It where the hosts discuss an array of current topics and share their overly biased opinions, and many other surprise segments this season. Also returning this year is the Guest Musician where a legendary guitarist or drummer performs as a one-man house band throughout the show. This season’s guest musicians feature Ex-Ozzy Osbourne guitarist, Jake E. Lee, return guitarist Richie Kotzen, and on drums, the brothers Carmine and Vinny Appice.

The season premiere of Season 12 of That Metal Show welcomes to the show for the first time, Jason Newsted, former long-time bassist of Metallica. Newsted is currently the front man and bass player for his latest project, Newsted, but is also known for his work in the past with Flotsam and Jetsam, Echobrain, and Voivod, to name just a few. During this episode, Jason talks about his time in Metallica, the injuries sustained on the road, and his new music and regrets.

Season 12 will also feature the 100th episode of That Metal Show, featuring the bassist for Pantera, Rex Brown, and his long time friend in the industry, Sebastian Bach, formerly of Skid Row. The two of them became friends on the road when Pantera and Skid Row toured together, and they retell some of their greatest stories from those days. We saved the funniest episode for the 100th.

Season 12 guests and airdates (all times at 11 PM ET/PT):

6/1 – Jason Newsted (former Metallica bassist/Newsted)
6/8 – Corey Taylor & Josh Rand (Stone Sour)
6/15* – Rex Brown (Pantera, Kill Devil Hill) and Sebastian Bach (*100th Episode)
6/22 – Jake E. Lee (former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist / Badlands) and Rick Allen (Def Leppard)
6/29 – Queensrÿche (Scott Rockenfield & Todd La Torre) and Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
7/06 – Rob Zombie & John 5 and Tom Keifer (Cinderella)
7/13 – Scott Gorham & Ricky Warwick (Thin Lizzy/Black Star Riders) and Neil Fallon (Clutch)
7/20 – Buck Dharma (Blue Öyster Cult) & Kix (Steve Whiteman & Brian Forsythe)

That Metal Show premiered on VH1 Classic in November 2008 and since then has become the only place for all things hard rock and heavy metal on cable television. The show has been visited by some of the biggest names in hard rock and heavy metal including members of Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Metallica, Pantera, Judas Priest, Anthrax, Kiss, Iron Maiden, Pearl Jam, Queensrÿche, and Heart. Fans can also catch the complete season 11 and bonus clips at ThatMetalShow.VH1.com.

RICHIE SAMBORA RESPONDS TO JON BON JOVI: “ENOUGH WITH THE TRASH TALKING”

The Daily Mail reports:

Guitarist Richie Sambora has hit back at comments made by his bandmate Jon Bon Jovi, that suggest Richie’s shock departure from the band was down to his history with substance abuse.

In a recent interview with the Evening Standard, Jon Bon Jovi, 50, hinted that Richie, 53, may have quit their latest world tour because of the same reason he quit in 2011, when he missed dates to go into rehab for alcohol abuse.

“It’s getting more and more difficult every day to not just sit here and say something… Because all I can say is this – it’s for personal reasons,” Job Bon Jovi said. “He’s been through it before, fortunately for us the same guy who filled in last time was available this time.”

But Richie has hit back at Jon’s claims, telling MailOnline exclusively, “I don’t have any major problems in life right now, I love my fans and I feel bad for them at the moment. Bottom line. My opinion is Jon wants to see if he can pull off stadiums by himself. He is making it very difficult for me to come back.”

He added: “Enough with the trash talking!”

Bon Jovi made cutting remarks about his longtime band member Richie in the interview, comparing him to U2’s The Edge to make the point that he feels Richie is replaceable.

“Life goes on, so if someone chooses not to be here… unlike if this were, God forbid, The Edge, and he for some reason couldn’t make a U2 show, [then] it would be very difficult to just step in,” he said.

He added: “You have a choice — you either figure it out, go and grow, not only survive but thrive. Or, you say, ‘I hate my brother and I’m gonna quit the band.’”

But Richie has hid say on whether he’s replaceable, talking about the tour he tells MailOnline: “[The fans] have paid money to see Bon Jovi and right now, they are not getting the whole deal.”

In the interview, Jon Bon Jovi also slammed Justin Bieber, labeling him “an a**hole” for showing up late to his shows.

Meanwhile, Richie has been hard at work on his new fashion line NikkiRich Clothing and is said to be currently preparing to launch the label world wide.

A close friend reveals to MailOnline: “Richie is fine, and is really concentrating on his fashion career. He just wishes Jon would let things resolve calmly without trash-talking.”

source: dailymail.co.uk