Showbiz Sandbox 379: Springsteen and Swift Beat Scalpers and Fans Pay The Price

September 4, 2017

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New technology from Ticketmaster is allowing the likes of Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen to combat scalpers and sell tickets to legitimate fans. But at what cost? Swift is asking concert-goers to pay $63 for a physical copy of her latest album to get better seats and the ticket prices for Springsteen’s Broadway residency top out at $850.

Maybe these prices are simply musicians trying to make up for the earnings they’ve lost in record sales over the past 15 years. According to a new report from Goldmany Sachs though, the music industry is poised for explosive, make that historic; no, make that unbelievable growth. And we don’t believe it.

Meanwhile, as the summer moviegoing season in North America end in a thud with box office plummeting to record lows, bring the shares of major movie theater chains down with them. But are ticket sales the real reason behind the stock sell off.

Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including how Facebook is taking on YouTube with video content, “The Simpsons” lay off their beloved composer after nearly 30 years and a study says millennials are fleeing terrestrial radio.

U2 Premiere New Song ‘The Blackout’
http://variety.com/2017/music/news/u2-premiere-new-song-the-blackout-listen-1202542784/

comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of September 3, 2017
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-september-3-2017-300513403.html

China’s Summer Box Office Soars 24 Percent as North America Sinks
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chinas-summer-box-office-soars-24-percent-as-north-america-sinks-1034544

After Dismal Summer, Hollywood Pins Hopes on Fall Ticket Sales
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/03/movies/hollywood-summer-box-office-movie-ticket-sales.html

From ‘The Big Sick’ to ‘Brigsby Bear,’ what does box office mean for indie movies these days?
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-indie-movie-summer-wrap-20170901-story.html

Movie Theater Chain Stocks Collapse During Dismal Summer
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/movie-theater-chain-stocks-collapse-dismal-summer-1034001

Secrets in Death by J.D. Robb – BookFilter
http://bookfilter.com/2016/11/01/secrets-in-death/

Traditional Radio Faces a Grim Future, New Study Says
http://variety.com/2017/music/news/traditional-radio-faces-a-grim-future-new-study-says-1202542681/

National Association of Broadcasters, Nielsen Respond to Study Predicting Terrestrial Radio’s Downfall
http://variety.com/2017/music/news/national-association-of-broadcasters-responds-to-silly-study-predicting-terrestrial-radios-downfall-guest-post-1202543318/

Hillary Clinton to Do Speaking Tour to Promote New Book
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/promotionalss/article/74662-hillary-clinton-to-do-speaking-tour-to-promote-new-book.html

‘Star Wars’ Han Solo Spinoff Adds Paul Bettany
http://variety.com/2017/film/news/star-wars-han-solo-movie-paul-bettany-1202545447/

Sky Drops Fox News in U.K.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fox-news-stops-airing-uk-1033601

Facebook Launches ‘Watch’ Video Guide and Shows Across U.S.: Will Viewers Tune In?
http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/facebook-watch-video-shows-us-launch-1202543689/

ESPN Football Analyst Walks Away, Disturbed by Brain Trauma on Field
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/30/sports/espn-ed-cunningham-football-concussions.html

Disney to Cut Staff at ABC Television Group
https://www.wsj.com/articles/disney-to-cut-staff-at-abc-television-group-1504133905

Longtime ‘Simpsons’ Composer Alf Clausen Fired
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/longtime-simpsons-composer-alf-clausen-fired-w500530

Music Industry Will Hit $41 Billion By 2030 According to New Goldman Sachs Report
http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7949040/music-industry-will-hit-41-billion-by-2030-according-to-new-goldman-sachs

Goldman Sachs: Universal Is Worth $23.5BN – and Streaming Revenues will Jump 500%+ by 2030
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/goldman-sachs-universal-is-worth-23-5bn-and-streaming-revenues-will-jump-500-by-2030/

Spotify Names Most Streamed Songs Of The Summer Of 2017
http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2017/08/spotify-names-most-streamed-songs-of-the-summer-of-2017.html

Taylor Swift’s New Concert Ticket Scheme May Have Gone Too Far
http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2017/08/taylor-swifts-new-concert-ticket-scheme-may-be-overboard.html

Bruce Springsteen Extends Broadway Run by 10 Weeks
http://variety.com/2017/legit/news/bruce-springsteen-broadway-extends-1202542931/

Walter Becker, Co-Founder of Steely Dan, Dies at 67
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/03/arts/music/walter-becker-dead-steely-dan.html

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