What NIN is doing is what every band that seriously cares about their true fans best interests should be doing. The two most important things to a fan is getting to see the band live and buying the band's music. Unfortunately, you're ripped in both cases. There is no need for a middle man when it comes to selling tickets (and one can now argue there is no need for a music label either...at least for an established band). If a ticket is listed as $50, why is the actual cost more like $70 or even more (40% increase)? How much of that is the venue and the band actually getting? Any band with competent management should be able to sell tickets directly to the fans through the internet (similar to what NIN is doing for their presales). There are pros and cons to any method, but the good outweighs the bad in the way NIN is doing it.
Anyway, I think STP should take a look at what bands like NIN are doing. I know, I know, it's a lot of work and STP (the band members) aren't exactly technologically savvy. In that case, they should look for management that cares about the fans and not maximizing their own (management) profits. I don't know who manages NIN, but maybe they should check with them. But the worst thing with this upcoming tour is that at these seated venues, you're most likely going to have to get a fan club membership ($45) and fork over $200 to sit near the front (not to mention the ticketmaster fees) with the VIP ticket, which unbelievably (for such a price) doesn't include a meet & greet. How fair is that to 90% of the fans, the ones that aren't rich?
Anyway, there's this talk of STP releasing the music differently this time, but I'm skeptical about this. STP doesn't seem to be the kind of band that, other than the music itself, goes about things in a new or revolutionary way. There more like a band from the '70s. Everything is kept low and mysterious, but at the same time there's never any (at least not positive) surprises. They're reluctant to release anything besides the albums themselves. To the modern rock fan this looks like they're doing it "by the book", they go through the regular motions. I guess my point is STP isn't a cutting-edge band when it comes to the business side of things.
And yes, I AM a fan that owns all their albums and going to the show in Wallingford, CT. I can hope things will change in this aspect of STP.
