With artists ranging from Kenny Chesney to Madonna touring this summer, concert tickets will go for $30 to $300 a pop. But concert ticket sales are not the only ways bands make their money.
I think bands feel pressured to keep up with new merchandise
said Mark Anderson, booking manager for the band Red Wanting Blue.
Some bands and their representatives blame the downloading of music on the Internet for the need to make more money on merchandise. Anderson said CD sales for Red Wanting Blue have decreased in recent years, creating a greater need for revenue from merchandise sales.
The band-merchandise industry has grown tremendously throughout the years, with the amount of items sold and the prices increasing greatly. Most bands sell items including T-shirts, hats, underwear, CDs and posters to anything on which they can put their name.
But, unfortunately for the fans, as the bands' dependency on merchandise sales goes up, so do the prices.
Merchandise is overpriced sophomore Mandy Smith said. But the thing is you cannot buy it anywhere else.
Mike Marquardt, vocalist for the Athens-based band The Facials, said the band definitely sells more merchandise at shows than they do online.
Shirts and CDs are the most common sell
Marquardt said.
Stickers are a good idea because they are cheaper, Marquardt said. The band can put them up at venues and hand them out as free advertising with their name and Web site.
Merchandise has always been a big industry
Anderson said.
Anderson, who also traveled with Maroon 5, John Mayer and Counting Crows on their summer tour last year, said that Maroon 5 was selling $6,000 to $7,000 in merchandise each show, and they played about five shows a week. Red Wanting Blue could make anywhere from $50 to $2,000 a night, but bigger acts like John Mayer make about $46,000 a show in merchandise alone.
Because Maroon 5 was new and had not broke yet
people were buying their CDs last summer
Anderson said, where more established artists are selling T-shirts and posters. Matchbox 20 does not even sell CDs at their shows anymore.
Smith said she would buy a T-shirt before anything else because if she sees a band in concert she probably already has their CD.
I don't like the touring shirts. I like the more classic look
said Smith, pointing to her black and silver studded KISS shirt.
However, senior Jesse Shoup said more than likely he would buy a tour shirt because it says he was there. But he would not spend more then $10 to $15.
The Facials sell shirts for $10, but most Maroon 5 T-shirts are $19.95, whereas the Dave Matthews Band sells shirt ranging in price up to $40.
Whatever people buy
we will sell
Marquardt said.
