Pearl Jam Joins Backstreet In Promoter Boycott

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Dec 18, 2099 Source: MTV Submitted By: Phatlady for sending this in. Pearl Jam has joined the Backstreet Boys in condemning the Denver concert promoter accused of channeling premium concert tickets into the hands of scalpers. Pearl Jam manager Kelly Curtis told the Denver Post that the band's tour next year will be promoted by SFX and not The House Of Blues, the company formerly known as Universal Concerts. "The recourse we're taking is not to work with House of Blues,'' Curtis said. "It's all we can do.'' The December 16 issue of the Post also reports that Korn, who shares management with the Backstreet Boys, is also looking to sidestep HOB controlled venues when the group tours next year. Speaking for the House of Blues corporate office in Los Angeles, spokesperson Larry Solters tells MTV News that the company is conducting an investigation into the allegations involving the Denver office and will be taking appropriate action based upon the findings. The Backstreet Boys first sounded the alarm after a Halloween performance in Denver when they discovered that many of the fans in the first 20 rows of the sold-out show had bought their tickets from brokers. They band has since pointedly told media sources that they would only be using "reputable" concert promoters "like SFX" for its 2000 tour dates. Media giant SFX has been on a buying spree of the country's major regional promoters and venues for several years and now owns the famed Bill Graham Presents and Michael Cohl's The Next Adventure (which recently promoted world tours by the Rolling Stones and U2), among others. HOB, a club chain backed by celebrity shareholders like Dan Aykroyd and Aerosmith, bought Universal Concerts for $191 million in July. Those two companies control a vast amount of the national concert market. Ticket brokering is not necessarily illegal, but it is frowned upon in the industry, overtly because the bands and their handlers say their fans aren't getting a chance for the good seats at an affordable rate. Music industry sources contacted by MTV News, however, single out Curtis and Pearl Jam as genuinely concerned, but contend that 'gold' and 'dress circle' seats are routinely put on sale for higher rates at various events, and that the real complaint is over lost revenues. A major touring band will work on a percentage of the gate and can command 90% of the declared net ticket revenue. Unlike the promoter, the act would not see additional monies from the brokered tickets. -- Sorelle Saidman Comment on this item. Next Item: BSB Billboard Stuff Prev Item: Backstreet Boys Number One with Web Users