More Stars Cancel Tours: Concertgoers Won't Pay for Subpar Shows

A couple of articles recently have addressed the growing trend of major concert tours having a difficult time selling tickets. Even artists as well known as Rihanna have had to cancel tour stops because of poor ticket sales. The obvious reason to give for the recent struggles relating to ticket sales would be the still precarious state of our economy, and the high unemployment rates throughout the country. Though the economy is definitely playing a part in slow ticket sales, it is not the only factor involved. Anyone who has attended concerts over the past 10 years can bear witness to the skyrocketing cost of concert tickets, which were totally out of line even when the economy was doing well. A large chunk of the cost of a ticket are a variety of fees that make no sense and seem to increase by the moment.

Although other companies have attempted to make a dent in its monopoly-like power, Ticketmaster still has a great deal of control over the industry, and this likely will continue given its recent merger with Live Nation. Even the most psychotic of fans has a point at which he or she will say: "I love (insert artist here), but I'm not paying that!" Hopefully, the modifications forced upon the merger by the Department of Justice will allow for more competition, which will lower ticket prices. I wouldn't count on it though.

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Celebrity Look Alikes: Black Music Month Edition

Prince / Rihanna
Though Rihanna burst on the music scene with a mane of flowing, long hair, for a while, the pop star was wearing her hair short, black and spiky, just like Prince. Both singers are defiant with their rocker-like sense of style and ooze much sex appeal.

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Celebrity Look Alikes: Black Music Month Edition

Celebrity Look Alikes: Black Music Month Edition
In support of this year's Black Music Month the creative brains at Black Voices decided to recapture a few laughs of the past with our Celebrity Look Alikes feature. Check out some of your favorite musicians paired up against other music notables. If you don't believe us, see for yourself.

Celebrity Look Alikes: Black Music Month Edition

Rihanna
Since Rihanna burst onto the music scene with her breakout single 'Pon De Replay,' the R&B singer has quickly earned the right to be called a pop star. Her new bad girl image and rocky relationship with fellow-singer Chris Brown catapulted the Barbados-born beauty even more into iconic status. These days, the Grammy Award winner is still churning out number-one records and also serves as spokesperson for Cover Girl cosmetics. She's a trendsetter, indeed, but there's another trendsetter that we think she looks like.

Celebrity Look Alikes: Black Music Month Edition

Prince
Prince is arguably one of the most iconic figures in pop music. He's crafted hundreds of songs and has won numerous Grammy Awards, and even an Oscar, for his incredible funk-influenced music. The Minnesota native's 'Purple Rain' album is still a classic and he's survived controversial fall-outs with his former record label to build a near-40 plus career. We think that 'The Purple One' has clearly influenced the look of Rihanna. Check out the next page.

Celebrity Look Alikes: Black Music Month Edition

Kirk Franklin
Over the past 15 years, Kirk Franklin has built a reputation as the most recognizable figure in modern gospel music. With his group, Kirk Franklin & The Family, the 38-year-old Fort Wayne, Texas native reached platinum status and held the #1 spot on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart for 42 weeks. There's a certain rapper that we think that Franklin is the splitting image of. Guess who?

Celebrity Look Alikes: Black Music Month Edition

Plies
Florida MC Plies (real name Algernod Lanier Washington) made a name for himself with the rap single 'Shawty,' featuring T-Pain. Notable songs, like 'Bust It Baby,' with Ne-Yo and 'Please Excuse My Hands' with Jamie Foxx and The Dream, also put him on the map as one of the new rappers to watch.

Celebrity Look Alikes: Black Music Month Edition

Kirk Franklin / Plies
We think these two naturally favor with their brown skin complexion and wide noses. Add in their short and stocky frames and there's no hesitation in noting that Franklin and Plies look alike.

Celebrity Look Alikes: Black Music Month Edition

Florence Ballard
The late Florence Ballard was an original member of the Motown group, The Supremes. Early on, she stood out in the trio as a blond beauty, but she was booted from the group by Motown head Berry Gordy in 1967 and replaced by former Patti and the Bluebells singer Cindy Birdsong. After suffering chronic depression and alcoholism, Florence died tragically of coronary thrombosis in 1976 at the tender age of 32. But there's one hip hop soul powerhouse that favors her in a special way. Take a guess.

Celebrity Look Alikes: Black Music Month Edition

Faith Evans
Faith Evans reigned as one of the premier R&B singers in the 1990s. This 35-year-old singer/songwriter is the widow of famed rapper Notorious B.I.G. Evans was the first female artist signed to Bad Boy and Biggie was the label's platinum superstar rapper. In her career, Faith has collaborated with artists like Tupac, Mary J. Blige, Diddy, Nas, Jay-Z and Whitney Houston, to name a few. She recently penned her memoir, 'Keep The Faith,' and serves as the executive producer of the biopic 'Notorious.'

Celebrity Look Alikes: Black Music Month Edition

Florence Ballard / Faith Evans
Unlike lead Supremes singer Diana Ross, Ballard was no skinny girl. Evans was always shamelessly voluptuous, too That has been one of their most endearing qualities to the average everywoman. Both singers were natural born beauties with their soft auburn hair and fair complexions.

Celebrity Look Alikes: Black Music Month Edition

Aside from financial matters, there may be other reasons as to why people aren't attending concerts. Most of the shows struggling to sell are large arena shows for major mainstream artists. There is something required to put on a good live show that isn't necessary to make a good album... that being talent. In the recording studio, a lack of vocal ability can easily be concealed with a variety of computer tricks; that isn't the case live. So, if a person is paying $100 or more to see an artist, he or she may not be content with watching them dance around stage badly while lip-syncing over a track with little live instrumentation.

Now, there are exceptions to this rule. Adolescents and teenagers usually will go see their favorite artists regardless, largely because it's their parents who are paying for the tickets -- but parents can't afford it anymore. People who have to work for a living require an actual performance for their money. In addition, some talented performers just don't play well in supersize venues. This applies particularly to hip-hip and reggae shows. These shows tend to play better in smaller venues, where the sound quality is usually better and you can actually hear the lyrics (for those who still actually listen to lyrics).

Many of the artists who are still selling out large venues are those who have proven track records for putting on excellent shows, like Lady Gaga and Beyonce. Maybe other artists and concert promoters will take notice and adjust their prices and venues appropriately.

What about you? Have you shelled out top dollar recently to see one of your favorite stars? Was it worth it? Or are you waiting for entertainers to realize that we are in a recession and lower their ticket prices? Leave your comments below!