NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 08: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Bruce Springsteen performs onstage during the 15th Annual Stand Up For Heroes benefit at Alice Tully Hall presented by Bob Woodruff Foundation and NY Comedy Festival on November 08, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for SUFH)

I can’t believe I’m gonna wade into this Bruce Springsteen tickets minefield but here goes.

I first saw Bruce Springsteen in March of 1977 in a gymnasium in Maine.

I was dating a guy from New Jersey and he wanted to go. I’d heard “Born To Run” on the radio and wasn’t particularly impressed by the song but, sure, let’s go.

(I wish I could see what this ticket cost in 1977!)

 

My first Springsteen show.

Holy crap. What a show. We were standing right up in front of the stage. Bruce and the E Street Band blew the roof off the place, playing songs from the ’60’s that I couldn’t believe I was hearing. And the  band’s musical passion was off the charts.

I fell in love with Springsteen‘s first three albums and really liked their next couple albums, too. Then Bruce got huge and rightfully so but for me the sound was too “pop”.

I went to the Meadowlands to see Springsteen in ’85. Good show. And I was there at Gillette the night the fog rolled in. Talk about ambience. Really loved that show.

Now? There’s no way I would spend the kind of money they’re asking for a ticket to see, pretty much, anyone. And, side note: people think those of us in radio get lots of free concert tickets. hahahahahaha. Have I received comps during my 30 plus year radio career? Of course. But swimming in free tickets to top notch artists? Ha. I wish.

If I remember correctly, it was the Eagles who first got the ball rolling with these insane ticket prices.

IMHO concert ticket prices now are out of control for the average working person, of which I am one. I come from very humble beginnings and I know what it means to work for living and to do without. A night out to see your favorite band shouldn’t cost what you’d pay for monthly rent or a mortgage, or even half that.

I know artists aren’t making the money selling albums the way they used to (for more than a few reasons). And I know costs have gone up for all the people and services they have to hire to produce their big production.

What I don’t know is who sets the prices and how they decide what to charge for a ticket or who does the deciding but Springsteen‘s manager Jon Landau is attempting to sort some of that out.

Bruce Springsteen’s Manager Releases Statement on Ticket Price Controversy

What I do know is ticket prices for some shows are ridiculous. And it has nothing to do with any artists political affiliation. Yea, I read the comments posted on our fb page. And yea, maybe some artists are out of touch with what an ordinary person earns and pays out on a monthly basis. (Hell, I recently read how some people earning $250k a year are living paycheck to paycheck! Let me retrieve my tiny violin.)

My point is, Bruce Springsteen and company are aware the newly announced shows are overpriced and there is proposed legislation to do something about it. It’s called the BOSS Act and appears to lay the responsibility on Ticketmaster.

So, we’ll see. I mean, if people can’t afford the cost of Bruce Springsteen tickets and no one shows up….

 

Bruce Springsteen: His Top 50 Songs Ranked

 

 

 

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