I can't figure the music business out. The people who make a killing on tour are the ones with long, established careers. Yet, the industry wants you to think youth is everything. Alicia Keys, Destiny's Child and Missy combined couldn't top the Re-Invention and Musicology tours. Strange. Is it because the young people buying their albums don't have the cash to pay for a more expensive concert ticket? Or is the public really smarter than its given credit for, and not convinced that the ones who rule the charts are worth the money? If the record industry cared about touring revenue (which mostly goes to the artists), the big 5 companies would be unstoppable. As it stands now, they just pump out the typical fluff that will sell millions of cds and fatten their profits. If Usher, 50 cent, Ashanti, et al. can't pack an arena, it's their problem.

I think the music bussines is in the shape it's in because record companies put all their effort into marketing their products to young kids, they are the one with cash to spend and they are easily influenced. Therefor all those young pop-acts / one album artists, get into the picture. It's easy to market britney to twelve-year olds...marketing leonard cohan to gradeschool kids...I'd like to see that happen. When tours are involved...I think they're sales depend on adults who have that sort of cash, and they can stay up after sleepy-time. Their taste obviously differs.