This episode we look at some of the big concert tours from the 1970s up until the present day, and compare ticket prices.
Blue Dot Fever is the term journalists use to describe the phenomenon of low ticket sales leading to concert tour cancellations. Many reasons have been put forward for this; many cite high ticket prices and the general economy.
The “CPE Bach” in the title refers to a university lecture by Professor Jonathan Steinberg titled “CPE Bach – Selling the Arts.” Prof Steinberg puts forward the theory that the music of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach changed in style from the music of his father, Johann Sebastian Bach, because of a huge change in the culture and the audience.
Johann Sebastian Bach spent his life in the service of either the church or of princes, and his music was written for the glory of God, or the state. By the time his son rose to prominence, he had a third option; he could write music for the general public. There was a change in society and a change in “the public square.” CPE Bach was a contemporary of Samuel Johnson, a contemporary of Jean Jacque Rousseau, who created a new notion of the self and not incidentally read his writings aloud to the public for money.
And so CPE Bach wrote music that appealed to the emotions of the general public. In doing so became a major figure in the transition from the baroque style to the classical, influencing the likes of Mozart and Beethoven.
We accept Professor Steinberg’s theory; that the artist follows the culture and audience. The artist creates new things and then brings them to the public square, and the public decides what to pay for. If they pay, other artists follow. And that brings us to Blue Dot Fever, people NOT paying. Is the culture changing in a major way? Does the grand but empty spectacle of the modern major concert tour no longer satisfy?
The live stream goes out every Saturday night at 9 PM Mountain Time on X @yusipka and on Rumble.
Past shows are archived on Rumble channel yusipka
SHOW NOTES
RPGG Ep. 16 – CPE Bach to Blue Dot Fever
The Great Courses: Jonathan Steinberg, European History and European Lives: 1715 to 1914
Global News, May 17, 2026: What is this ‘blue dot fever’ and why is the music industry afflicted with it?
Los Angeles Times, May 12, 2026: Is ‘Blue Dot Fever’ a real problem for the concert industry?
Wikipedia: List of highest-grossing concert tours
Ticket price comparison
Note: Data I (K. Steel) compiled from various sources, and using this inflation calculator. Not precise, but you get the idea: ticket prices appear to be running well ahead of inflation.
Swiftiiie1989_tv on YouTube, posted Feb 13, 2026: You Belong With Me ( Taylor Swift The Eras Tour – Final Show )
Business Insider, Dec 6, 2024: How to buy Taylor Swift tickets: Eras Tour dates and prices compared
Celebrity Net Worth: Taylor Swift $1.8 billion
John Cronk on YouTube, May 7, 2025: Alice Cooper Group – Billion Dollar Babies tour 1973
Alice Cooper Archive: Billion Dollar Babies Tour 1973
Wikipedia: Hello Hooray
JudyCollinsForever on YouTube, posted Sep 28, 2014: Judy Collins – Hello, Hooray
jesse parker on YouTube, posted Jan 7, 2024: Pink Floyd ~ A Momentary Lapse Of Reason Tour 1987
Concert Archive: Pink Floyd’s 1987 Concert History
Amazing Kalifha´s Channel on YouTube, posted May 23, 2022: The Rolling Stones “Tumbling Dice” Voodoo Lounge Miami USA 1994
Concert Archives: The Rolling Stones/Counting Crows on Aug 14, 1994
Kai van BallegooijU2 on YouTube, posted Mar 28, 2010: U2 Where The Streets Have No Name Live Chicago Vertigo Tour
eBay: U2 9/16/05 Toronto Ontario Canada Vertigo Tour Concert Rare Ticket! U-2 Bono
Celebrity Net Worth: Bono $700 Million
The Guardian, Jul 8, 2026: How did South Africa produce an anti-African movement?
Cheap Trick on YouTube, posted Oct 2, 2009: I Want You to Want Me (from Budokan!)
Ultimate Classic Rock, Feb 2, 2016: How Cheap Trick Finally Broke Through With ‘At Budokan’
Setlist: Cheap Trick Bid Farewell to Budokan
Vivid Seats: ZZ Top with Special Guest Cheap Trick, Hollywood Bowl, Aug 5, 2026
Def Leppard on YouTube, posted on Aug 27, 2012: Pour Some Sugar On Me
Def Leppard Tour History: Def Leppard Hysteria Tour 1988
CBC, Jul 1, 2026: Canada will enter the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest
Bremer Barockorchester on YouTube, posted May 11, 2024: Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Symphony in E minor, Wq. 177