THOUGHT: Madonna - the Price is Right?

Last week Madge, the ‘queen’ of pop, released tickets for a concert at none other than Wembley Stadium later this year. Quite a stinking massive gig: it’s a statement as an artist that you can sell out then successfully pull off a show like that. Madonna almost definitely has this quality: she's managed to maintain giant popularity since the eighties, changing with the times and music like a female David Bowie; turning out huge hits from every new album, every new image and reinvention. Hey, even her latest single got to number one, and that was a colossal turd. Her latest look isn’t very sexy at all, it has to be said, but hey – it’s still Madonna and she’s still going to sell out Wembley. I prophesize extra dates for her residency there too: the first performance is on a Thursday, clever and confident planning on her tour management’s behalf as the Friday, Saturday and Sunday could be filled following that.

But I digress: the point I wish to make is the absolute rip-off her ticket prices are. Do you wish to know how much a ticket for this event is? £160. Yes, that’s right. One hundred-and-sixty pounds of your hard-earned cash. Even U2 doesn’t charge this much. I saw Muse at Wembley last year for £40. Same for Foo Fighters this year. Metallica tickets were in that price range too. Hell, most arena gigs are around £30. Why so much, Madge? I’ve heard from a certain Elton John you sometimes don’t even sing live, you dirty bitch. Oh, another fact I haven’t mentioned is that the £160 tickets are just for seating. So I’m currently guessing that only Bill Gates will be able to get the privilege of standing in the Golden Circle.

Simply ridiculous.

Taking into account the revenue gained from merch sales - let alone her new album selling like hot cakes – would aptly fill any hole in poor Queenie’s pocket, and yet her and her management decide that if they can screw people for more money, they will. I apologise for my slightly more-than-normal rant level, but live music is something to be enjoyed for a cost that will make it worthwhile for the artist to tour in the first place, but also won’t bankrupt someone. I'll finish up here I think, before my head turns into a volcano. I’m going to leave you by putting this issue into perspective: my entire weekend at Download, three days of countless bands, is costing me £160.