Daily Buzz

Daily tour recap: Jonny Lang, Broken Social Scene and more

TicketTours — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:30:26 -0500

Today's tour recap includes some of the day's latest breaking itinerary updates and announcements as compiled by TicketNews on November 20, 2008.

Jonny Lang still has the blues, and will rock through early 2009 to prove it. His last concert of '08 is slated for November 28 at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA, but he'll be back on the road by January 29, at the latest, with another House of Blues show in Chicago, IL. He'll end the early year run at the same venue in another city with a February 28 gig in Dallas, TX. Other highlights for Lang include a February 14 show at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, CT, as well as a February 19 concert at Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, FL.

Ticket Software LLC is subject to Arkansas law in Hannah Montana case

TicketBuzzy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:25:47 -0500

Despite praising the company for cooperating with authorities, an Arkansas judge this week ruled that Ticket Software LLC, parent company of TicketNetwork and TicketNews, is subject to certain state laws for the ticket company's involvement in a Hannah Montana ticketing case.

Both the Arkansas Attorney General's office, and state Circuit Court Judge Timothy Fox do not believe Ticket Software is guilty of any wrongdoing, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, but the state's legal team still filed suit against the company to find out who was reselling tickets to the wildly popular concert tour. The case is still pending.

Front Gate Tickets and FanMail Marketing sign partnership deal

TicketBuzzy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:39:38 -0500

"FanMail Marketing & Front Gate Tickets Announce Partnership"

Austin, TX (Front Gate Tickets) November 20, 2008 – Two industry leaders announced that they will combine forces today: FanMail Marketing and Front Gate Tickets have partnered to provide an enhanced Fan Relationship Management (FRM) and marketing software platform for ticketing and online stores. This platform will enable promoters, venues, festivals, sports teams and artists to better manage ticket and merchandise sales while also providing tier one direct to fan marketing and communication tools.

Front Gate Tickets, the exclusive ticketing provider for premier entertainment organizations including Lollapalooza, Belly Up Aspen, The Austin City Limits Music Festival, Higher Ground and Stubb’s BBQ offers one of the only fully integrated online ticketing and merchandise platforms in the industry. Fans are able to buy tickets and merchandise simultaneously while the promoter or manager can easily add, update and track it all on the web-based backend. Now, teamed up with FanMail, an added component is available to target and segment fans and promote directly to them seamlessly and efficiently based on their interests and history while tracking campaign effectiveness along the way.

Ticketmaster seeks to seal Sean Moriarty deposition in StubHub lawsuit

TicketBuzzy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:42:21 -0500

With speculation swirling throughout the industry that ticketing's two top dogs, Ticketmaster Entertainment and StubHub may have settled a nearly two-year-old lawsuit between them, TicketNews has learned that Ticketmaster is separately seeking to seal a recent deposition in the case by President and CEO Sean Moriarty because of its potentially sensitive nature.

In a California Superior Court filing this month obtained by TicketNews, Ticketmaster is trying to keep Moriarty's testimony, and that of the company's former Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing David Goldberg, from being made public, based on some prior agreements between the litigants on what may be withheld.

Metal band Keel reunion tour in the works for 2009

TicketBuzzy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:53:54 -0500

Since disbanding in 1989, glam/heavy metal band Keel has decided to get back together and is marking its 25th anniversary with a reunion that will take the 80s’ rockers to a select number of festivals and showcase dates in 2009. The concerts mark the first time in 20 years that the band will perform again.

"It would not have been right without these guys,” said founder and lead singer Ron Keel, in a statement. “With the high volume of requests for the band to reunite, the members felt the time is right to deliver the show fans everywhere have been demanding: a Keel reunion."

TicketsNow CEO Cheryl Rosner: expect more 'volatility'

TicketBuzzy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:23:58 -0500

It is no secret that the ticketing industry, like other markets throughout the struggling economy, is dealing with plethora of financial and business issues, but TicketsNow President and CEO Cheryl Rosner believes that ticket companies should embrace the challenges.

Rosner was one of several Chicago-area business leaders to offer her views on current market conditions before the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center this week, and the overall tone of the briefing was one of more economic gloom for the immediate future.

Country superstar Taylor Swift graduates to headlining tours

TicketBuzzy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:49:19 -0500

Taylor Swift, the 18-year-old country music sensation, will leap frog into headlining arenas next year, according to an agent from the William Morris Agency, which represents her. That revelation was made on the opening panel at the Billboard Touring Conference in New York on November 19 that dealt with artist development. The jump to arenas is based upon her sales of about 600,000 albums last week. Swift has already toured with Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill and Brad Paisley.

A few hours later, the official tally was released and the singer/songwriter solidified her position as one of the most important artists to emerge on the popular music scene this decade as her sophomore album, "Fearless," debuted in the #1 slot atop Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart, with sales of 592,304 copies in its first week in stores. This is the biggest opening U.S. sales week in 2008 by a female artist in all genres of music, and the fourth biggest overall, behind Lil Wayne, AC/DC and Coldplay.

Daily tour recap: Kings of Leon, Citizen Cope, Meat Puppets and more

TicketTours — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:10:50 -0500

Today’s recap includes the latest itinerary announcements and updates as compiled by TicketNews on November 19, 2008.

We’ll start off the evening with Kings of Leon, who had a successful year both in terms of album and ticket sales. The Southern rockers hope to repeat the success early next year with a new stretch of tour dates. So far, Kings of Leon have confirmed at least six dates in late January, including a previously announced performance on January 29 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. The first show scheduled for 2009 Is currently a January 20 concert at Palace Theatre in Louisville, KY, with other engagements on January 21 at Murat Theatre in Indianapolis, IN, January 23 at Uptown Theater in Kansas City, MO, January 24 at the House of Blues in Chicago, IL, and January 27 at Lifestyles Community Pavilion in Columbus, OH.

Ticketmaster and Billboard team up in new ticketing initiative

TicketBuzzy — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:59:02 -0500

"TICKETMASTER TO POWER LIVE MUSIC TICKET SALES ON BILLBOARD.COM"

New York City and West Hollywood, Calif. (Ticketmaster) November 19, 2008 – Billboard – the world’s premier music source, and Ticketmaster – the world’s leading live entertainment ticketing and marketing company -- today announced that they have joined forces to offer Billboard.com visitors direct access to thousands of live music events across all genres of music. Ticketmaster is a Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:TKTM) company.

Links to ticket sales are now available on all chart and artist pages throughout the Billboard.com, and ticketing options include direct sale options through Ticketmaster and TicketsNow, Ticketmaster’s on-line resale domain, in the United States.

Seatwave founder Joe Cohen is the latest speaker to join Ticket Summit NYC

TicketBuzzy — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:30:27 -0500

Ticket Summit NYC this week welcomed ticket industry veteran Joe Cohen, founder of the popular UK-based ticket Web site Waldorf=Astoria in New York, is the ticket industry's leading trade show.

Cohen, a former senior executive with Ticketmaster Entertainment and online dating site Match.com, will speak on two panels, "Who's On First? The New Paradigm in the Ticket Marketplace" and "Getting Global: Ticketing & International Expansion." This is the second time Cohen has participated in Ticket Summit, having been a speaker at the Las Vegas show this past summer. The fourth incarnation of the Las Vegas Ticket Summit is scheduled for July 15-17 at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino.

The Vines tour cancels festival appearances and Japanese shows

TicketBuzzy — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:37:30 -0500

Australian rock group The Vines have pulled out of their three Australian festival appearances – Homebake, Pyramid Rock and Big Day Out – as well as their upcoming Japanese tour scheduled for late November due to front man Craig Nicholls's mental health issues.

Nicholls has Asperger Syndrome, a mild form of autism, which escalated sharply in recent weeks and requires immediate help over an extended period of time. One of the disease's symptons is difficulties with transitions or changes.

Theaters begin to see slide in Broadway ticket sales

TicketTime — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:07:01 -0500

Overall, ticket sales were down this week with a total of $16,629,333 compared to the previous week's box office total of $17,125,791. The gross receipts for the season to date are $439,858,283, looking positively flush when compared to the same time last season, $413,226,732. In addition, only two of the 33 productions currently on Broadway, Wicked at the Gershwin and Jersey Boys at the August Wilson, hit the million-dollar mark this past week at $1,305,090 and $1,072,512 respectively.

Last year's strike of The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees' (IATSE) began on November 6, crippled most of the Broadway productions for many weeks, resulting in low box office totals. Performances of 27 shows were struck, impacting Broadway and the city's economy.