Megaticket Recycled Line-up Could Signal End Of Bay Area Country Concerts

Earlier this month, concert promoter Live Nation announced the line-up for it's 2012 "Country Megaticket" concert series.  This series of shows brings country artists to various Live Nation venues throughout the summer concert season.  It's a great opportunity for fans to see their favorite artists on tour.  If you have never purchased the Megaticket before, this could be something great for you, assuming you are a fan of all of the artists on the line-up.  But if you have bought the Megaticket before, this could be an expensive disappointment. 

The problem with Megaticket is the same problem with country music in general.  A national concert promoter has determined who you, the fans of country music want to see in concert.  They have decided the acts that will sell-out arenas and amphitheaters nationwide, based on their popularity.  And in doing so, they have eliminated the majority of country music's best acts.  Even worse, Live Nation apparently feels that giving fans the same acts year after year is a great template for success. 

 

The 2012 Megaticket line-up for Shorline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California is a perfect example of this.  Four of this year's headliners are re-runs from 2011.  These include Toby Keith, Sugarland, Rascal Flats and Jason Aldean.  The other two shows will be headlined by Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert.  Is this the best that Live Nation could do?  Where are George Strait, Martina McBride, Reba, Alan Jackson, Zac Brown Band, Tim McGraw and Blake Shelton?  Country mega group Lady Antebellum is listed as one of the series' headliners, but they have been omitted from the Mountain View line-up. 

In some cases, the opening acts are equally, if not more appealing that the headliners.  The Band Perry will open for Brad Paisley.  Chris Young and Jarrod Niemann will open for Lambert.  And if I was going to the Rascal Flats show, I'd head for the exits after Little Big Town performs. 

While the line-up may be impressive to some Bay Area country music fans, this year's series is going to be a huge challenge for Shoreline and Live Nation.  Last April, the Bay Area's San Francisco-based country radio station KBWF (the Wolf) switched formats to sports talk, leaving the San Jose's KRTY the only country radio station in the region.  Shoreline Amphitheater is located in KRTY's market, which will certainly help to bring local fans to these shows.  The bigger question is how many out-of-town fans will head back to Shoreline to see headlines that they have already seen from previous Megaticket series'?

My prediction is if the 2012 Megaticket season fails to produce sell-out concerts at Shoreline, it could signal the end of the country series in the Bay Area.  Without strong, local radio support, Live Nation will be forced to promote these shows on television and elsewhere, which will take away valuable dollars from their bottom line.  Other markets across the nation get ample country music shows throughout the year.  The Bay Area is one of the largest population centers in the U.S. that does not see country music shows on a regular basis.  If Megaticket 2012 is not a success, Bay Area country fans may be forced to travel to Sacramento, Fresno or Nevada to see their favorite performers in 2013 and beyond.