Modulator

Boycott Ending?

Maybe.

I've have successfully avoided any Clear Channel operated music venues for, well, since clear channel entered the concert promotion business and still enjoyed a lot of good music.

Now comes this possible good news:

Clear Channel Communications, the world's largest radio broadcaster, will spin off its live-entertainment unit...

This, of course, wouldn't have anything to do with:

Get ready to hear music to your ears: Concert ticket prices are about to come down.

Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones and Coldplay are set to go on tour -- but the real news for music fans is an expected drop of as much as 30 percent on some tickets, concert experts said.

Clear Channel Entertainment, the world's largest concert promoter, is leading the way, cutting the prices for its lawn seats.

The show-biz giant is considering running a big ad campaign with the tag line "Music Sounds Better on Grass," sources said.

No-frills seats at Clear Channel venues that used to go for as much as $40 will now cost $20. On top of that, Clear Channel is ditching the $4 facility fee it used to charge, all in an effort to lure back sticker-shocked music lovers.

Or, this:

Clear Channel thought its combination of assets would create a powerful, across-the-board platform for advertising sales on its billboards, at concert and sports venues and on its 1,200 radio stations.

Instead, the combination irked music fans, record labels and artists, who complained that Clear Channel used its might to punish artists who didn't play by its rules and contributed to the sharp rise in ticket prices at venues it controls.

Final decision on the boycott to come after the spin-off happens and I've evaluated the new ownership structure.

Via Eschaton.

Posted by Steve on April 30, 2005