Where are all the concertgoers?

By Mark "D" Thomas
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

This summer, over 40% of tickets across the music industry are going unsold...why aren't people going to concerts anymore? With summer tours happening with the likes of Rihanna, Limpbizkit, Maxwell, Pitbull, Black Eyed Peas, and so many more, it's a shame to see that many are having to cancel dates from their summer tours.

The struggling economy is to blame for much of this. Individuals are taking closer stock of what they spend their money on, and concerts are a luxury that many are passing on in exchange for more practical, necessary items.

Musicians are looking to concerts to make up for extremely dwindling record sales due to online piracy, and it has worked in bunches throughout the last few years. However, this summer does not look to be so kind to many artists. The only artists still finding great success with concerts are tween artists such as Taylor Swift and Justin Beiber. But that doesn't go all the way across the board, as even The Jonas Brothers and the American Idol tour has had to cancel many tour dates due to struggling sales.

As a consumer, all I would say is I love live music and think there is nothing better in the world than taking in a great concert--but bring down the ticket prices! In a struggling economy, the industry would both help itself and help consumers by lowering prices and not have to cancel so many shows in exchange. Food for thought.