And so I didnt.
Smiths strategyremains the gold standard for how artists can keep concert tickets affordable.
But most artists hide behind management, Smith said earlier this month.
Robert Smith of The Cure performs during Riot Fest 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.Getty Images
Oh, we didnt know, they say.
If they say they do not, theyre either fucking stupid or lying.
(The shows ended up beingthe bands most successful ever, according toBillboard.)
I was spoken to in a certain way by a certain individual.
And something in me was like,what?
You know, its like a Run along, Sonny kind of moment, Smith said.
And it just gradually escalated until I was thinking, No, Im not backing down.
This resolves how I want it to resolve.
It was optics, he said.
In the grand scheme of things, its like peanuts.
People are terrified of upsetting Live Nation and Ticketmaster, Smith said.
Its really bizarre, actually, because the power of the artist, its the ultimate power.
