On The Record

  • Radiohead on ticket prices

    December 7, 2007 @ 5:21 pm | by Jim Carroll

    Thanks to Brendan and Karl from the excellent Analogue magazine for this out-take from an interview done today with Radiohead’s Phil Selway

    Analogue: Tickets for your gig in Dublin in Malahide Castle went on sale this morning and are very expensive, it’s €70.70, and there’s been some discussion of how you can justify the fair way of releasing your album and then charge that much for a tour gig?

    Phil: Right, and what’s been the general response on that?

    Analogue: Well I mean it is the most expensive gig of the tour and there have been arguments that you’re pricing out some fans, people who may have bought the discbox, big fans or students, who don’t have that much money to come to a gig.

    Phil: Right.

    Analogue: Do you have any reaction to that?

    Phil: Eh, well whenever we’ve looked at ticket prices and set them, we’ve wanted to make them as fair as possible so I would hope that we’ve pitched it right on this one, make it as fair as possible on the price. You know we’ve never really set out to max, as they say, our tour revenue so I think we’ve always put out reasonably priced tickets. That’s as much as I can say really.

    • 39 Comments »

    1.
    December 7, 2007
    5:35 pm

    cornered rat?

    Comment by Waxy
    2.
    December 7, 2007
    5:44 pm

    That might just be the most unconvincing “defence” of ridiculously high prices I’ve ever read.

    Comment by Conor
    3.
    December 7, 2007
    5:51 pm

    waxy - more like “pop star surprised at getting asked a very simple question which he has never been asked before”. I also think it’s interesting that he said that the band set the ticket price, confirming everything in last week’s gigonomics article - http://www.irishtimes.com/theticket/articles/2007/1130/1196263158458.html

    conor - when you are a pop star, €70.70 is obviously a “reasonably priced ticket”

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    4.
    December 7, 2007
    6:06 pm

    Was that you on Drivetime on the radio a few minutes ago talking about Bob The Builder?

    Comment by Rasputin
    5.
    December 7, 2007
    6:08 pm

    Guilty. Please move on now, nothing more to see here.

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    6.
    December 7, 2007
    6:12 pm

    Just wondering what your beef is with Radiohead? You seem to devote an awful lot of time trying to prove that they are closet breadheads,which everyone knows anyway!

    Comment by joemancoblondie
    7.
    December 7, 2007
    6:31 pm

    I thought he seemed genuinely surprised that people considered it expensive. It’s not like they’re conspiring to exploit people - they just think €70 is a decent price.

    Comment by Karl
    8.
    December 7, 2007
    6:41 pm

    joemancoblondie - i have no beef with radiohead, merely putting forward some opinions and points of view. This is a music blog so to not discuss or highlight these issues would do readers a disservice. Surely you don’t have to have “beef” to do this?

    karl - the point is a huge amount of people consider this to be a very high price. why else are there still tickets on sale for the show for a band who have played Ireland several times in the past and who have a huge fanbase here? Phil Selway’s surprise that people consider €70.70 to be a high ticket prize highlights just how much of a remove there is between what the band consider to be a “decent” price and what their fanbase think of this “decent” price.

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    9.
    December 7, 2007
    6:55 pm

    i don’t think he has a clue about the price of tickets really.
    Analogue should have told him the difference in prices between Malahide and some of the uk shows.
    either way it makes no difference to me, i’ve seen radiohead many times, and between their half-hearted “performance” at marley park and the ticket price to malahide, i’ll be giving this a miss.

    Comment by Ciaran
    10.
    December 7, 2007
    6:57 pm

    Fair enough, i’m a relatively new reader of your blog and in the months since In Rainbows has been released, there have been lots of post’s dealing with Radiohead and their secret love of money - not so much the music but I’m a radiohead-head so whatayagonna do? Thanks for turning me on to Dan Deacon and Cat Power by the way.

    Comment by joemancoblondie
    11.
    December 7, 2007
    7:42 pm

    I know that, but they’re not consciously “monetising the fanbase”. There have been accusations that they gave away the album to hook people in so they could charge lots for the gig.

    The gig is the price most major label bands of their stature would be (even if they’re gone off EMI now). They have a reputation for being more “indie” than most big bands, but they don’t seem to be concerned with keeping that up.

    Nobody discusses Bruce Springsteen or Bon Jovi’s ticket prices.

    Comment by Karl
    12.
    December 7, 2007
    8:34 pm

    I agree, highlighting the rip-off prices of Irish gigs takes no beef. 70 eurons is a ridiculous price.

    Comment by Justin
    13.
    December 8, 2007
    2:39 am

    “…I know that, but they’re not consciously “monetising the fanbase”. There have been accusations that they gave away the album to hook people in so they could charge lots for the gig…”

    not an acusation, but quite simply how an awful lot of contracts are going nowadays

    very simply put:
    live shows = money
    releases = no money

    Comment by Leigh O'Gorman
    14.
    December 8, 2007
    3:30 am

    I’ve been following this ‘beef’ since the album was released.
    My spin on it:
    A band is obviously comfortable enough after decades of global popularity.
    Said band can then take a gamble on latest material by allowing fans to set their own price, as band is notably intelligent.
    Surely band would sell-out venue instantly if similar generosity were deployed in the shape of low ticket fees?

    I don’t understand why the business acumen and apparent generosity evaporated with these prices? By all accounts their reception at Marlay was tepid last year and tickets were flogged at the gates well below cost. Shouldn’t that be a consideration urging caution on overpricing? Yet the opposite seems to have happened. I think one of two things is going on.
    1) Radiohead believe their fans are now indebted because InRainbows was made so accessible.
    or
    2) Thom Yorke’s been reading your LiveNation grumbles, Jim, and realised what a bunch of overpaid suckers Irish giggers are….

    Comment by Naomi
    15.
    December 8, 2007
    10:36 am

    The fact is we (as in the people of Ireland)have been for along time been getting ripped off when it comes to the price of bands touring here and abroad,examples Bruce,Pj Harvey, Interpol even our festivals the list could go on.Hopefully the 4 pm opening time on the ticket will somehow justify the price with hopefully a decent support line up.
    I think fair play to anyone who is boycotting buying tickets for this gig,hopefully bands/promoters will take note,but myself personally have purchased a ticket,its a band i’ve never seen before and cant wait to hear songs of their brilliant new album live.Anyone who has purchased tickets for Bruce or PJ Harvey have no real right to give out about Radiohead.

    Comment by Brian
    16.
    December 8, 2007
    11:04 am

    Been watching this for a while and i think there seems to be a little bit of confusion as to who sets prices for different sides of the industry.

    To state to very obvious Where in days gone record companies used to set the price of record releases,then with the new digital age itunes and service providers set the new price of a download and now it looks like bands themselves are setting the price or not of new material it would seem that those on the record readers now want a situation where they decide the “fair” price of a concert ticket.
    Not going to happen….why should any artist let you decide how much they should charge for an event?Bands that have huge live turnover such as radiohead are not going to let the fans how much to pay as you have no idea what they are going to spend on putting the show on.

    If it isn’t ticketmaster,then it’s the promoter ,perhaps it’s the length of the set maybe it’s the burly security or perhaps the state of the venue or the price of an actual ticket but i don’t see much in the way of prasie for any aspect of the irish venue/promoter industry and i know that isn’t the topic of this but it is an overlall thread running with on the record.

    I’ve been to my fair share of festivals around the world and i can tell you irish concerts are in the main well run,expensive,wet and with above average lineups compared to other countries.
    So get used to it and the fact that you live in a country where you will see amazing live music on every level from pub to theatre to large festival is a real bonus but you are going to have to pay for it.

    Oxegen,Electric Picnic,Midlands festival,lovebox,Castle Paloooza,Slane Castle may not be to everyones taste but we have a vibrant music scene so stop the moaning and enjoy it or,i’d rather see radiohead in Ireland in any case.
    C

    Comment by Cj
    17.
    December 8, 2007
    1:06 pm

    Why was my comment deleted? I’d have trouble taking your future opinions seriously if you can’t even permit the most timid criticism.

    Comment by James
    18.
    December 8, 2007
    1:31 pm

    james - what comment, what “timid criticism”? I have just approved 37 comments which were made since 7pm yesterday and there was no comment from you in that bunch. As anyone who regularly reads or posts here will tell you, comments are rarely if ever deleted. There was a problem during the week with the comments feed but I thought this had been fixed (especially as your comment above came through). Anyone else experiencing difficulties?

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    19.
    December 8, 2007
    4:32 pm

    I didn’t realise you were having problem with the system. I apologise for accusing you. I guess I posted it around 7PM but I’m not 100% sure.

    Comment by James
    20.
    December 8, 2007
    5:28 pm

    This ticket price is a monstrous reminder of what set the precedent for Ireland’s already atrocious ticket prices. Radiohead, I do recall, were the first mainstream (as in non ‘classic’ vegas dwelling rehash) act to break the 40 punt barrier back in the day. No surprises that they’ve become the test bed for the next round of ticket hikes. Just to put it out there, and I expect to be shot down by those in their thirties with paying jobs - as a student I see a reasonable amount to pay for a band of Radiohead’s enormous talent and stature as about 30 euro - with similar degree reductions for smaller bands. Forget Radiohead, I can’t affort the 25-30 euro it now costs to see Final Fantasy.

    Comment by Gareth Stack
    21.
    December 8, 2007
    6:26 pm

    yes jim, i had posted a reply to your reply and I thought it was deleted……I thought I won!!!!

    Comment by joemancoblondie
    22.
    December 9, 2007
    1:49 am

    The gig is ridiculously overpriced if they’re selling it on the quality of In Rainbows which was an average album, especially by their own standards. However it will sell out, it’s just that they’re trying to sell tickets at the most expensive time of the year & people don’t have the money to spare. I saw them last year in Marley Park & Beck made it worth the trip, hopefully they have as good a support next year!

    Comment by Ave
    23.
    December 9, 2007
    12:22 pm

    They clearly set the ticket prices that high in order to keep the bandwagon jumping daytrippers out so the rest of us could listen to and appreciate Creep in peace.

    Comment by dealga
    24.
    December 10, 2007
    9:35 am

    Reading their interview in the Observer this weekend, you get the impression that they have (and want) little say in the financial side of the business. They admitted as much in the planning of the In Rainbows album. They devised the plot but their management team handled the practicalities of it. So it wouldn’t surprise me if Mr Selway came across like a politician caught in the headlights when asked a simple question about his band. Fair play to Analogue.

    Comment by Peter
    25.
    December 10, 2007
    9:49 am

    Peter - it wasn’t the greatest interview ever, was it? All the questions came from fans which probably explained why there was little of great note to be had from it. Nice photos though

    (Full interview is here - http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,2221299,00.html)

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    26.
    December 10, 2007
    9:50 am

    Here’s the interview with old winky eye and the rest of the band in yesterdays OMM. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,2221299,00.html

    and Radiohead can go and shite! Mind you I was listening to The Bends the other day and its still great.

    Comment by Matt Vinyl
    27.
    December 10, 2007
    9:51 am

    Darn. You’re too quick on the draw.

    Comment by Matt Vinyl
    28.
    December 10, 2007
    10:26 am

    ‘I’ve been to my fair share of festivals around the world and i can tell you irish concerts are in the main well run,expensive,wet and with above average lineups compared to other countries.’

    You know, if we had a venue on the order of the Hollywood Bowl or something, I might believe this fibbery.

    Comment by Justin
    29.
    December 10, 2007
    12:32 pm

    “i have no beef with radiohead”
    really Jim,,,,,I mean, really??? :)
    Tickets for the Radiohead show are in exactly the same price range as most other bands of their stature, U2, Springsteen ,etc, etc… They’re no different from every other band,,right? Right? But yet here we are again, change the record Jim, why not bash some of the other greedy bands out there for a change, just for once at least…

    Comment by Enda
    30.
    December 10, 2007
    12:39 pm

    Enda - see comments no 36 and 96 here - http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord/2007/12/04/todays-rhetorical-question-would-you-pay-e7070-to-see-radiohead/

    Radiohead are not the only ones which people have criticised on this blog for high ticket prices. Remember that it began with PJ Harvey - http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord/2007/11/06/is-pj-harvey-worth-6480-euro/

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    31.
    December 10, 2007
    12:42 pm

    Actually Enda, just after I published that comment above, I realised something and thought your name rang a bell. It did because you already grumbled about this and I answered you in full before. Now you have the same answer not once, not twice but THREE times. Sometimes I’m far too polite for my own good.

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    32.
    December 10, 2007
    4:27 pm

    I guess all the whining crybabies can stay home and listen to the album they downloaded for free.

    70 Euros to see your favourite band? Sounds fair to me.

    Comment by dave rywall
    33.
    December 11, 2007
    10:26 am

    I asked around some online friends for the most expensive ticket prices
    they’d paid recently. Check these out for comparison:

    - “Neil Young at Massey Hall. $200.25.”

    - “Tom Waits, Okeefe Centre, Toronto: $125ish”

    - “$100 to see Daft Punk at the Vegoose festival.”

    - “$300 for 2 tix to see Prince”

    (the 70 EUR price is about $100.)

    Comment by Justin
    34.
    December 11, 2007
    12:12 pm

    radiohead are full of shit

    Comment by OneForTheRoad
    35.
    December 11, 2007
    12:42 pm

    So good they did it twice - extra show added

    Comment by markg
    36.
    December 12, 2007
    1:52 pm

    To see Creep live twice, or not to see Creep live twice - that is the question.

    Comment by dealga
    37.
    December 12, 2007
    2:16 pm

    Justin-28
    I don’t really understand your post-very few if any Irish festivals are held in venues and usually take place on greenfield sites or old stately homes so what has the hollywood bowl got to do with my post???
    Just wondering….

    Comment by Cj
    38.
    December 21, 2007
    6:32 pm

    Outrageous ticket price news:

    Velvet Revolver for €54.80 plus charges. IN THE AMBASSADOR.

    Compare NME Shockwaves tour charging €25, less than half, and that is a multi-header gig.

    Now that is bullshit.

    Comment by Karl
    39.
    January 4, 2008
    10:15 am

    dealga - you seem obsessed with the idea they will play Creep at these gigs. They won’t.

    Gig prices are high these days - Radiohead generally keep theirs below other bands of similar profile.

    A label-less band can allow purchasers to decide the price of their album; they can’t allow fans to decide how much is earned by all the other organisations involved in mounting a tour.

    Comment by Sycamore Flint

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