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09.04.2024, 10:00

Wolfie's goes Germany: sipping his whiskey backstage with Rod Stewart

Around four weeks to go until Rod Stewart's European tour kicks off with a concert in Antwerp on 11 May. As is well known, the 79-year-old singer will also be performing numerous concerts in Germany as part of...   mehr

21.02.2024, 14:03

Swing Fever: Rod Stewart and Jools Holland release their first album together

A new swing album is being released, which in itself is not big news. It happens every now and then in the music world. But when this new album is released by Rod Stewart and Jools Holland, it's worth taking a...   mehr

25.01.2024, 14:14

Ranking: The best live albums of all time

The music magazine "Musikexpress" has published a list of the best 100 live albums of all time. Rod Stewart made it to 93rd place with the album "Absolutely Live". The magazine also voted Nirvana's MTV...   mehr

Concert tickets: the secret behind the pricing

The announcement of a tour by our favourite artist regularly sends us into a state of complete ecstasy and anticipation. We have to be there, preferably very close to the stage, in row 1, eagerly awaiting the start of ticket sales from the very first second. And when the magical moment arrives, you rage through the ticket portal with fierce determination. Fiercely determined that nobody, absolutely nobody, will snatch the coveted front row ticket from under your nose. Then there are no more friends, I want a ticket for row one. At the same time as thousands of other people who are sitting in front of their computer at the exact same time and trying to outdo their ticket rivals. It's important that your bank account is currently well-filled, because concert tickets are no longer a bargain. Especially if you want to attend not just one concert on the tour, but several or even all of the shows (and aim for the best seat each time), ticket costs can quickly add up to a few thousand euros. The days when you could see your stars live for a "tenner" are long gone.
We often ask ourselves how it can be that ticket prices have climbed again compared to the last concert a few years ago. But we don't bother to find out why. We are too happy that we were once again able to get hold of the coveted tickets right at the front of the stage.
So how is the ticket price for our stars' concerts put together? We have investigated this question.

If you talk to friends and acquaintances who have been around for a while and attended concerts back in the 1970s or 1980s, you often hear things like: "I saw the Stones back then and for a mere 6 Deutschmarks". Such statements are likely to astonish the listener, as today a Rolling Stones concert ticket in front of the stage costs around 600 thalers. And the prices for Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood are by no means unique. From time to time you even see four-figure sums being asked for a ticket.
But how can it be that a concert ticket nowadays is almost as expensive as a month's rent for a flat?
Let's start with a basic understanding of the rough mathematical composition of a ticket price, as this is not as difficult as you might think. Let's work with an example: Organiser XY wants to put on a concert with band Z and makes an enquiry to the band. Let's call the band The Singers. In order to calculate the ticket price for a concert by The Singers, two calculations are necessary. In the first step, the band (or their management/agent) fires up the calculator and calculates their fee. Several variables have to be taken into account, such as production costs, travelling expenses, fees for the musicians and their employees as well as the general market value of the singers. Once the calculation is complete, the band informs the organiser of the requested fee. Then invoice two begins.
In the next step, the organiser calculates all the costs incurred on his side, for example for hall hire, security, catering and cleaning staff. Insurance must also be taken into account here, as well as costs for promotional measures and bureaucratic expenses. Once the organiser has done this, we have two amounts: the band's requested fee on the one hand and the costs for the concert or the event as such on the other. Now the organiser adds the fee and the concert costs as well as a small profit, divides the total by the potential number of spectators and gets the basic price for a ticket as a result. But why "basic price"? The answer is that our ticket price takes a few more detours before the presale starts - and naturally becomes more expensive in the process.
A ten per cent advance booking fee, a system fee and an online fee are then added. With a basic ticket price of €20, we end up with around €25.50 per ticket. Advertising fees are also often added to the ticket prices, as this fee makes it possible to finance corresponding advertising measures in the run-up to a concert. Basically, the higher the basic price of a ticket, the higher the fees.
If the selling price of a ticket is €60, the organiser receives just €50, of which they then have to pay an additional three euros in VAT.
Of course, these calculation examples do not explain the constantly rising concert prices. In addition, ticket portals such as Eventim and Ticketmaster charge higher fees. The coronavirus pandemic has also led to a general increase in basic ticket prices.
Dirk Zimmer, concert organiser from Bochum, told the private radio station Radio Bob: "Since corona, all production costs have doubled, in some cases tripled. You used to book a technician for 200 to 300 euros an evening, now it's more like 450. That also affects the ticket price".
But even that doesn't explain the astronomical prices in excess of 500 or 600 euros. For agent Jörg Düsedau, there is a very simple formula: "It's a simple case of supply and demand. The more expensive an event is, the more desirable it seems to become. In the cheapest segment under 20 euros, people are very cautious. You don't get such a great response there, although great club concerts are often offered for this money. At the moment, I have the feeling that the more expensive an event is, the more likely people are to buy tickets.
There are also the categories on offer, which have changed a lot in recent years. It used to be common for there to be one indoor category (usually standing room), but now there are often two: one in front of the stage (Golden Seats; Golden Circle) and one behind it. And it is precisely this new categorisation that means it is almost only possible to watch your favourite artist's concerts from the front row by winning the lottery. There are hardly any opportunities left for normal earners. What's more, there is no longer any need to arrive early and race from the entrance straight to the stage to secure the best seats. Nowadays, almost all shows are seated, guaranteeing that even late arrivals get their booked seats.
All this is rounded off with VIP and box offers, which entice with a special car park, a separate entrance, buffets and free drinks and sometimes also include a meet & greet with the artist. Of course, all this is only available for the right amount of money. A few thousand euros can easily be spent here.
These days, concerts offer something for everyone and for every budget. Michael Thiesen, Head of Booking at the Hamburg office of Schubert Music Agency, is quite critical of this development: "From the organisers' point of view, I can understand and sympathise with this development. But there is also another side to it. People are being excluded, including the hardcore fans who brought the band to the top in the first place."
But that's not the end of it. Recently, the concept of "flexible pricing" has increasingly come to the fore. This means that tickets for seats right next to the stage, for example, go on sale for €1000 and become cheaper bit by bit until they go on sale. Or vice versa: if sales were very strong at a lower price, the concert ticket would automatically become more expensive.
In the end, it all leads to the audience further back paying normal prices with a bit of luck, while the higher earners gather in front of the stage, who are not always the ones who make up the mood and atmosphere at a concert.
The only question that remains is to what extent the artist himself has an influence on the pricing. They do to a certain extent. In the end, however, only to a certain extent, because even artists have to bow to the realities and fees of the market. Ultimately, however, the artist decides with the organiser whether and to what extent exclusive packages are offered, which is the famous stick between the legs, especially for long-term supporters and fans of the first hour, some of whom attend and have attended a large number of concerts.

10.01.2024, 12:32

10 January - the date that connects me to Rod Stewart more than any other

Sharing your birthday with your favourite musician is something special. You experience the day with even more joy because you know that somewhere else the singer you trust is also celebrating his very special...   mehr

08.01.2024, 12:55

An evening at Twickenham railway station changed the music world thanks to Long John Baldry

In the long career of Rod Stewart, there are probably two events that had the greatest impact on his career as one of the world's best singers. One was the day in 1971 when a radio presenter in Cleveland...   mehr

03.01.2024, 11:32

Welcome 2024 - the tour countdown is on

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers and friends a happy, healthy and successful New Year 2024. Many of us spent the New Year with friends and acquaintances, family and colleagues....   mehr

11.12.2023, 11:24

The song that really got everything going: Maggie May

"Wake up Maggie, I think I got something to say to you ...." - With this line of text, long-time Rod Stewart fans immediately know what's coming. The opening of the song MAGGIE MAY is like an anthem at the...   mehr

03.12.2023, 11:02

European Championship kick-off and Leipzig concert: Saxon fans may be expected to be flexible

Football and Rod Stewart belong together like Big Ben and London, like Paris and the Eiffel Tower, like Munich and the Oktoberfest: you can't have one without the other. The now 78-year-old singer has been a...   mehr

27.11.2023, 18:01

Between Rod Stewart and Vladimir Klitchko: Düsseldorf musician Gina Brese tells her story about a legendary performance with Rod Stewart

Who among us hasn't dreamed of being on stage with Rod Stewart and performing a song? Gina Brese, singer, saxophonist and songwriter from Düsseldorf, experienced this dream back in 2015. On 28 November 2015,...   mehr

27.11.2023, 10:38

Album of the week: Tonight I'm Yours (1981)

We all know the feeling. You hear the latest song by your favorite artist on the radio and of course you want to have that record right away. So you run off to the nearest record store .... Oops, sorry, wrong...   mehr

24.11.2023, 09:09

Concert Review: Saying Goodbye to 2023 in Style (by Sue Walton)

The November 22, 2023 was Rod Stewart’s last show of the year at Caesars Palace and in true Rod Stewart fashion he ended on a high note, leaving fans wanting more. Fortunately, “more” will be coming our way...   mehr

23.11.2023, 11:50

Wetten dass.... I'll meet you, Rod?

Next Saturday, the legendary TV show Wetten dass will take place for the last time in Offenburg. Since 1981, Wetten dass has been THE big Saturday evening entertainment programme on German television and has...   mehr

17.11.2023, 11:49

Concert marathon 2024: Will Las Vegas really be the end?

The moment that Rod Stewart fans have always dreaded is getting closer and closer: the singer's departure from the stage. Barring a miracle, 2024 will be the last year in which the now 78-year-old will thrill...   mehr

15.11.2023, 10:04

Rod Stewart: Concert history in Germany

As we all know, Rod Stewart began his unique career in the early 1960s thanks to the legendary Long John Baldry, who listened very carefully to a young man squatting on the floor at a grey and uncomfortable...   mehr

12.11.2023, 13:43

Concert and party review: Rockin' In The Round Hamburg 2007

In the early 2000s, even before Facebook, Twitter & Co, the good old Storyteller was THE forum for Rod Stewart fans in Germany. You could register at the web address www.rod-stewart.de and then post, comment...   mehr

12.11.2023, 13:02

Rod Stewart Tribute: Rud Stewart (If the original obliges you and saves your butt)

He likes to call himself an Englishman who lives in Sweden: Michael Dean, probably better known to most as Rud Stewart, has also lived in Mallorca and has a soft spot for Australia and New Zealand. His great...   mehr

12.11.2023, 12:04

Rod Stewart Tribute: Rob Caudill (When Your Nose Gives You Direction)

Imagine you're at the airport, strolling relaxed through the city or sitting comfortably in a restaurant and all the people around you are staring at you as if you're from another galaxy, or constantly asking...   mehr

30.09.2023, 13:54

My ultimate setlist

There were 60 years of a unique career to work through. If my personal setlist were to be performed, Rod would probably have to be on stage for several days at a stretch. The following list of Rod Stewart and...   mehr

30.09.2023, 12:58

The arenas in Germany

Quarterback Arena in Leipzig Address: Am Sportforum 2, 04105 Leipzig Opening: 11 May 2002 Capacity: 8000 seats Website: https://www.quarterback-immobilien-arena.de The Rod Stewart concert will take...   mehr

27.09.2023, 14:03

Rod Stewart Tribute: Robin Stone

Young Reinhard discovered his love of music when he was still a three-year-old. It all began with a drum kit his father had made himself and the music of the Bee Gees. Today he can look back on a long musical...   mehr

25.09.2023, 14:05

Album of the Week: Foolish Behaviour

Foolish Behaviour is the tenth of 31 studio albums by Sir Rod Stewart and was released on 21 November 1980. The ten songs on the album were recorded at Record Plant Studios and Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles...   mehr

25.09.2023, 09:12

Story: The Faces thrill at their first concert in Germany - "Stewart's voice gives you goosebumps"

Hamburg, 2 December 1970: It's a cloudy day on the Elbe, with rain showers coming down again and again. At seven degrees it is quite cool. Not the kind of weather to chase a dog out the door. And yet, on this...   mehr

24.09.2023, 14:14

Album of the week: TIME - back to the roots

One should never say there is nothing left for a person to do after publishing his autobiography. Rock star Rod Stewart is a prime example in this respect. In 2012, he published his autobiography with the...   mehr

23.09.2023, 14:18

When Georgie Boy Really Pissed Off John Lennon

Without a doubt, ex-Beatle John Lennon, who would be 83 years old today, and Rod Stewart belong to the group of the greatest music stars this planet has ever seen. Both started their careers in the early 60s....   mehr