Who'd Figure? Jay-Z And Kelly Clarkson Concert Loses nearly $1 million - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 05-06-2009, 01:51 AM

The first concert in Arizona Stadium since 1977 lost nearly $1 million.
The Last Smash Platinum Bash, which featured Jay-Z and Kelly Clarkson, ended up $917,000 in the red. The concert cost $1,420,000, and ticket and merchandise sales brought in only $503,502, according to student organizers.
Tommy Bruce, outgoing president of the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, blamed the event’s struggles on the economy.
“Nobody predicted the economy would be the way it is now last May,” he said.
The contract for Jay-Z, who was paid $750,000, was signed March 24.
The ASUA will apply its entire emergency budget reserve — $350,000 — to help cover the shortfall.
The rest will come from the UA BookStores, which has been sharing a portion of its revenues to support the ASUA since the 1930s.
That means less money for the ASUA over the next five years.
How much less? This year, the BookStores shared about $530,000 of their revenue with the student group. For each of the next five years that amount will be reduced by $114,000.
Incoming ASUA president Chris Nagata, who was sworn in on Friday, said that ASUA would continue to have concerts, but maybe not in the football stadium.
“We’ll look for different ways so that we’re not taking as big a financial risk,” he said.
All told, ASUA sold 6,100 tickets to the Bash and gave away about 4,400 tickets as part of marketing deals with local radio stations and newspapers. The Star received 18 tickets.
Roughly 1,000 tickets were given away to students who demonstrated the ability to sing a Kelly Clarkson song, or passed other equally inane tests administered on the mall on the day of the show.
For his part, Jay-Z said he had a good time, even if he never imagined he’d share a bill with Clarkson.
The hip-hop icon expressed his pleasure with the show on the Web site Rap Radar.
“I thought that to be the oddest pairing EVER but, soon realized, it's what I've always professed..There is NO such thing as BLACK music or WHITE music only GOOD or BAD music,” he wrote.
Frank Farias, Director of UA BookStores, emphasized that the money going to the ASUA to cover the cost of the concert will come from an existing emergency fund, and that the cost of books will not go up as a result.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/291452.php

HuntingtonM15 · 05-06-2009, 02:22 AM

It would be nice if Jay-Z and Kelly took big cuts on this one show so no one else has to potentially go into debt.

TJL · 05-06-2009, 02:59 AM

Maybe people didn't want to see the show.

Naaaaaaah! Blame the economy.

ABlairican Pie · 05-06-2009, 08:36 AM

Aren't their musical styles completely different? Jay-Z is a rapper, and Kelly Clarkson is country-pop. Strange double bill. Would fans want to go for each other's genres?

James · 05-10-2009, 01:34 AM

Will this hinder Jay-Z's efforts to land LeBron in New Jersey? (Or will the Nets be in Brooklyn by 2010?)

05-06-2009, 01:51 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Who'd Figure? Jay-Z And Kelly Clarkson Concert Loses nearly $1 million The first concert in Arizona Stadium since 1977 lost nearly $1 million. The Last Smash Platinum Bash, which featured Jay-Z and Kelly Clarkson, ended up $917,000 in the red. The concert cost $1,420,000, and ticket and merchandise sales brought in only $503,502, according to student organizers. Tommy Bruce, outgoing president of the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, blamed the event’s struggles on the economy. “Nobody predicted the economy would be the way it is now last May,” he said. The contract for Jay-Z, who was paid $750,000, was signed March 24. The ASUA will apply its entire emergency budget reserve — $350,000 — to help cover the shortfall. The rest will come from the UA BookStores, which has been sharing a portion of its revenues to support the ASUA since the 1930s. That means less money for the ASUA over the next five years. How much less? This year, the BookStores shared about $530,000 of their revenue with the student group. For each of the next five years that amount will be reduced by $114,000. Incoming ASUA president Chris Nagata, who was sworn in on Friday, said that ASUA would continue to have concerts, but maybe not in the football stadium. “We’ll look for different ways so that we’re not taking as big a financial risk,” he said. All told, ASUA sold 6,100 tickets to the Bash and gave away about 4,400 tickets as part of marketing deals with local radio stations and newspapers. The Star received 18 tickets. Roughly 1,000 tickets were given away to students who demonstrated the ability to sing a Kelly Clarkson song, or passed other equally inane tests administered on the mall on the day of the show. For his part, Jay-Z said he had a good time, even if he never imagined he’d share a bill with Clarkson. The hip-hop icon expressed his pleasure with the show on the Web site Rap Radar. “I thought that to be the oddest pairing EVER but, soon realized, it's what I've always professed..There is NO such thing as BLACK music or WHITE music only GOOD or BAD music,” he wrote. Frank Farias, Director of UA BookStores, emphasized that the money going to the ASUA to cover the cost of the concert will come from an existing emergency fund, and that the cost of books will not go up as a result. http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/291452.php
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

05-06-2009, 02:59 AM	#3
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Maybe people didn't want to see the show. Naaaaaaah! Blame the economy.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

05-06-2009, 08:36 AM	#4
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	Aren't their musical styles completely different? Jay-Z is a rapper, and Kelly Clarkson is country-pop. Strange double bill. Would fans want to go for each other's genres?
	__________________ Release the kitties. --Nathan Explosion

05-06-2009, 02:22 AM	#2
HuntingtonM15 That Bothers Me Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jun 20, 2003 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 11,060	It would be nice if Jay-Z and Kelly took big cuts on this one show so no one else has to potentially go into debt.

05-10-2009, 01:34 AM	#5
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	Will this hinder Jay-Z's efforts to land LeBron in New Jersey? (Or will the Nets be in Brooklyn by 2010?)