allergictomiami,
"and in regards to being worth $750 million, I guess one needs to take into account that while they may have bought a house for $3 million the pure fact that they slept in it now doubles market value, so yeah $750 million if they sell all their possessions, what is really in their bank account no one will ever know, I don't think they even know, maybe Larry, but yeah..."
I assure you, the band does not have anything close to 750 Billion dollars in possessions. The combined property that the band owns, houses, apt, etc, is probably less than 100 million based on what I have seen. The vast majority of this is in the bank or invested in some way so as to continuely multiply their wealth year after year in that area.
In the year 2000, the band was colectively wealthier than anyone else in Ireland, with the exception of one business owner. Ireland today, on a per capita basis, is the 3rd richest country on the planet after the USA and Lux..
The band has sold over 120 million albums worldwide. The band recieves a 25% royalty rate on the sale of each album. The highest in the industry I might add.
The past 3 tours have grossed, 143 Million, 171 Million, and 155 million dollars. That excludes money from the sale of merchandice sold on the tours.
"I'm also not completely conviced at this Popmart contract if, Michael was really that naive, then the band had no real reason to stress about the empty seats but rather just enjoy the ride and let things fall into place."
Well you should be because it is a fact. In 1996, Michael Cohl outbid two major firms for the right to promote U2s next tour.
The bands stress came from not being ready to play songs live they had just recorded. This was the primary stress on the early part of the tour. Also, the album was not selling as well as they thought it would in the USA. The stronger attendence for individual concerts as well as concert grosses were on the First leg of the American tour, rather than the third leg of the American tour later that fall.
I have the Attendence and Gross statistics for nearly every single POPMART show from Amusement Business which publishes the Grosses every week from around the world. I have the exact Concert Gross and Attendence for each individual leg of the tour as well. If you have any questions about attendence for a specific show or leg of the tour as well as Concert Gross, I can answer it.
"But if the contract was that good, they still suffered, cause it made them a much higher risk investment for promoters in the future."
Not really because guess who promoted the Elevation tour? Michael Cohl. Guess who has promoted the only 3 tours to Gross more than POPMART worldwide? Michael Cohl. Guess who promoted Pink Floyds last tour in 1994? Michael Cohl.
The most successful concert touring bands today are Rolling Stones and U2. On a global scale, no other band or artist can match them completely on a worldwide scale.
"Regardless I think it's about time they gave us a free tour
"
That would be a ticket scalpers dream! The fact is, someone is going to make money. If the artist is unwilling to make the money, then Ticketmaster and Ticket brokers and scalpers will.
I will agree with you that what U2DMfan said about the contracts is probably true.