Faced with soft economy, artists offer deals

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — If you want to sit in the really good seats for a Keith Urban concert this summer, a pair of tickets will put you about back about $170. But in a nod to the tough economic times, the country superstar has also priced some tickets as low as $20 per seat, so fans won't stay home because they can't afford to go.

"They may be to the side, but they still have a good view of the stage," Urban said recently of the discount tickets. "It's a way for us to allow those people that are a little hard up for cash to come and see the show."

"It's a balance for me," Urban added, "because we want to put on a good show. I'd make every ticket $10, but we'd be up there with a megaphone and a flashlight with some colored paper over it."

The concert industry has been impervious to the recession and high ticket prices over the years. Last year in North America, the average box-office gross was up 18 percent and the average attendance up 6.3 percent, according to Billboard magazine.

But with the economic news getting worse by the day, artists and concert promoters are trying to make sure fans come out to the stadiums, arenas and concert halls this year by offering ticket deals and other incentives.

No Doubt is giving away a digital download of their entire catalog in exchange for the purchase of a premium ticket ($42.50 before taxes and fees). Coldplay plans to give concertgoers a free live album, while U2 is pricing at least 10,000 tickets to every show in the $30 range (though the top price will still cost a hefty $250 a ticket).

And alt-country star Lucinda Williams, also worried about the economy and miffed about fees tacked on to her concert tickets, is offering a credit on concert merchandise, about $7 on clothing and $5 on CDs, and on merchandise on her online store, lucindawilliams.com. The offer is through July 31 to accommodate people who attended her shows before the announcement.

"I understand that this may only be a small gesture and in no way solves the problem long-term, but I feel that it is important to try and do something to make it a little easier during this time," she said in a statement.

Promoters are also offering deals. The Stagecoach country music festival in Indio, Calif., (Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and more) cut the cost of two-day passes to $99 from $167 two years ago. Two other popular summer festivals, Bonnaroo and Coachella, are offering tickets on layaway.