Jay-Z suffered another hit to his bruised ego after performing to large sections of empty seats in New Orleans last week.
The rapper’s publicists have been working over time on claims that his 4:44 tour is setting attendance records.
On Thursday, Jay-Z bragged about breaking the attendance record at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
But journalist Keith Spera was in the house, and he tells a different story.
“More than once at the Smoothie King Center on Thursday night, Jay-Z bragged that he had ‘officially broken’ the venue’s concert attendance record. That wasn’t true, not by a long shot.”
Spera added that the official attendance was around 13,000 — including “hundreds of complimentary tickets,” and fans were shocked to find tickets selling as low as $6.
Spera said entire swaths of upper deck seating remained empty. A massive black curtain concealed the empty seats.
“For Jay-Z, nearly a quarter of the upper-level seats were empty, hidden behind a black curtain. That obvious discrepancy alone discredited his attendance-record claim.”
Jay-Z threatened to sue a media outlet that first reported his slow ticket sales after he cancelled a Fresno, Calif. concert.
Digital Music News writes that Jay-Z’s lawyers threatened a lawsuit if they didn’t delete earlier tour coverage.
Jay-Z miscalculated a curious social media promotion for his concert tour that, despite his millions of followers, missed the target.
Jay-Z’s real fans — the ones who have been down with him since day 1 — were puzzled at the news that he was on tour.
Similarly, singer Chris Brown, who boasts 70 million followers across 2 platforms, promoted Heartbreak On a Full Moon heavily on social media, but the album barely sold 45,000 copies last week.
Stars like Brown and Jay-Z find their numbers are coming up short because they rely on social media to get the word out about their projects. But roughly 60 percent of their social media followers are children — ages 17 and under — with cell phones but no disposable income.
Jay-Z’s half empty arena tour continues all this week with dates in Canada, then it’s on to the TD Garden in Boston on Saturday, Nov. 25, and the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Sunday, Nov. 26.
Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images
Well all I know is his show in Atlanta was basically SOLD OUT! I was there and there was not an empty seat up in the Philips Arena.
Concerts are way overpriced, and no one buys music like they used to. Most get it off cheap/free websites or buy an unlimited monthly subscription. Songs now a days are purchased for less than a nickel. Just saying.
Why would people pay to see a old man walk back and forth, when they can go to a nursing home and see it for free?!
Yep. You said it.
The camel is done. Go sit down and be a real father to your 2 daughters and 3 sons.
They were giving his tickets away left and right on the radio … You can tell folks ain’t buying the shyt ! ?
They need to bring those ticket prices down to $12.95.
He was here in Charlotte a couple weeks ago. When I say NO advertising, I mean none! And of course, the tickets were SKY HIGH. Tickets for our seats sold for $117 each and were in the nose bleeds almost. There weren’t as many people there as it was when he came here in 2012.
He enjoyed a nice run now go sit down somewhere and enjoy watching ya kids grow. These people have such massive egos they cant stay out of the spotlight for long
Sandra check your facts on Chris Brown…. Ya Boy doing real good . Whole album banging … Trust … We got numbers .. Since CB in the write up Salute ? 11100000000….. See clip on topic https://youtu.be/4-xQGo7og5M
LMFAO
cold-blooded lol
People are not spending as they use to on anything. Has nothing to do with him.
He sold out in Detroit on Saturday. And my friend said he gave a good show for about 2 hours.
Playing devils advocate maybe they did sell out and the scalpers lost money. Oh the day 4 44 came out i listened to it for free from the free public library app….
I went to see him, when he had Jeezy and Trey Songz open up for him.
I haven’t thought of him as a solo artist since ‘The Black Album’.
He’s supposed to be Motown’s Berry Gordy. Not Michael Jordan playing for the Wizards.
MsPam LMAOOOO I’ve been saying that for years…you took the words right out my mouth!!
and most of the young folks are NOT checking for him…
Wasnt Jay-Z in Charlotte on Thursday?
What new music do you like?
JAY-Z – 4:44 Tour
Date
Thu 11/16 @ 8pm
Spectrum Center
Charlotte, NC
Im so lost.
He was in Charlotte on Thursday. Not a couple of weeks ago.
Reading Rainbow ass n****.
So I wonder what shows is she talking about.
NICE!!
OMG Ms.Pam dont say that… LORD
so cold blooded
WORD!!
Not ATL I know that.
I saw him in Atlanta last week. Show was the bomb and it was sold out!
I’m glad to see him doing well. We all make mistakes. He has a beautiful voice. Thanks for posting because Im not buying it
I like damn near all kinds of music … New and old
I meant what have you been listening to lately, that’s new?
I don’t believe tho write up
I feel you on this. It applies to both he and his wife. The surely don’t give anyone a chance to miss them, so they?
Dude if that song get stuck in my head at work…lmao
LOL ssss ssss ssss!
No one sells out anymore damn tickets cost 70 dollars for cheap seats for shows with fantasia people cannot afford it.
I saw him in Dallas about 2 weeks ago and the show was awesome!! Nearly a sell out. and those who had higher level seats were upgrading on the spot to lower level seating. I bought a nosebleed and was fortunate to move to the 100 level for free dollars
Doesn’t matter the show was AMAZING!! Have a nice day!!!
Thank you!!! People out chere stealing and bootlegging and we’re supposed to trust numbers.
When will you retire? Have you built enough to sit down at the retiring age? Or will you ego allow you to sit and watch your kids/grandkids without a need for more?
Lmao …..? that’s what they do who tf are u or anybody else to tell somebody when to stop doing what they love!!! Like you can’t raise a family hold the house down and work too!!! Theyre in the spotlight because of the media not them!! It’s comes with the terrrioty of being a celebrity!! Maybe if you was busy living your own life you wouldn’t give a sht about what some celebrity is doing!
Sandra doesnt realize jayz is a 50 yr old rapper? this is uncharted territory for a rapper his age even a 40 yr old rapper that’s not kanye..
jays come along way since “ALL OF MY DAYS” changing faces remix. lol
Fame the worst drug known to man–Jay-Z. Take your own advice, from a place of love
It’s called an opinion, everyone has one and I expressed mine. Why are you taking my comment personal as though it were directed toward you and trying to come for me? Seems like you’re the one who needs to get a life and get out the Carters’ a$!. And by the way, grow up while you’re at it.
LOLLOLLOLLOL!!!!!
Cold MsPam, just COLD!!! LOLLOLLOLLOL!!!!!!!
Chris
Carry your cunny and your questions someplace else
Wow…deep!
It’s called a contract!!
I was listening to Fazerdaze a few months ago.
If that counts.
Rap by black males is dying white boys and their mumble-core rap taking over.
He need to release a nude pic… slang that D**** to sale some tickets lol
He was in Houston, Nov. 8th. I’ve NEVER seen the Toyota center that packed…not even for Beyonce.
Sadly his real fan base is either dead or in jail listening… and can’t show their support… and too bad the message he is sending in 2017 is falling on deaf ears
Jay’s eyes in that top pic has me traumatized. ???
Concert tickets can be expensive, especially for the good seats. And no one wants to see Jay perform without Bey. Even when he’s with her, I just want to see Bey, not him, but he did okay during their On The Run joint tour. He needs to just retire from music and focus on his other ventures. Rap concerts are just loud and boring. They don’t do nothing but stand there yelling over the music being played. Waste of time, gas, and money.
I get all of my tickets from resellers on VividSeats.com. I got a deal on Katy Perry tickets, not too expensive, but I wasn’t paying for a floor seat, too much money. At most shows, I’m up top in the nosebleed section, but the view isn’t too bad at certain venues.
Insert major side eye.. Anyway we going to hold it down for Jay.. #NY
And Chris did 70,000 his first week of sales the album has over 45 tracks!
That’s what they want you to think. No show is ever technically sold out because people purchase tickets and then they try to sell them as resellers on SeatGeek or VividSeats or similar sites. So while “most” tickets may be purchased, a lot of tickets may not sell and some people do not show up who did buy seats. Ticket buying is very interesting when you learn more about it.
It “looked” that way. Trust me, there were still seats available. That’s what ticket resellers do, they buy tickets and often have some left over. You can still purchase most concert tickets the day of the show. I stopped buying from TicketMaster, they are full of shit. I buy all concert tickets from resellers, never had a problem. VividSeats rocks!
As immature as your comment I see. Valid question for someome with judgments. Grow up this is a blog and there will be questions for your statements.
Both of them have full control over the terms of their contracts. If they are being bound by their contracts, that’s on them. I like both of them, but there is a such thing as oversaturation. All I’m saying is I want to miss them sometimes. However, them being afraid they will become irrelevant is like watching Ali fight past his prime – it’s hard to watch.
Fat. Chance. They are missable, more like good riddance when they’re gone,,
Yo, between the Ali reference and the use of the word “over saturation “, I know I’m certainly not the only one hoping these seniors grab a walker and a tom Collins so the millenialls can rock
Wrong. It’s the entertainment business and niggas got shelf dates,
Idc abt the ticket sales but I fux w/4:44!
Kendrick Lamar, The Migos, and Drake are worth seeing in concert. Jay Z not so much!
Auntie Sandra,
Fake/Purchased Followers can’t buy tickets or records (iTunes) ?
I didn’t even know he was on tour!
The only person selling records is Taylor Swift, and I would not spend money to see her either. I like old school music. The music today lacks talent, and no substance. However, Jay Z’s album 444 is really good in my opinion. He should have put Nas, and Rakim on the ticket, now that would have been a concert.
Wow… I guess symbolism doesn’t always work… specially in the long run. This set back won’t stop Jay Z, there are tons of people who look up to him.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d566647fde389d34993365fc5f22a42b81e32d5e1ea8998fc1cc09ec93c6e074.jpg
Yeah I wouldn’t pay to see her either. Katy Perry said she’s a bitch. But Katy Perry would know because she is also one.
So lol he’s a legendary rapper who career will never be touched and honestly I’m sure just like me people think he’s just doing this for fun and it’s what he loves to do . Jay has nothing left to prove so who cares if he didn’t sell out lol
Smh at “half empty arena tour”…
Here is the link to SR fabricated, embellished story, where one can read the truth:
http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/entertainment_life/keith_spera/article_89f19f80-c5dd-11e7-badf-0755ac0e3bfd.html
None of his tickets sold for $6 in New Orleans and the stadium was surely not half empty. The 4:44 tour is actually doing very well as evidenced from the thousands of social media posts by fans during each show, which always show a packed stadium of concert goers who are singing along to every song.
Yeah, I’m a fan and I don’t follow in behind lies. That’s all.
https://t.co/F2xwK2gk0G
This is pretty much how every show has been. Sorry you hate it, lol.
Most concerts put a black curtain behind the stage, because those tickets never go on sale for all logical veiwing reasons.
Yep, The only tickets I’m buying is Jeffery Osborne. Hella of a performer! Plus Anita Baker gave up touring.
The timing of the tour lends itself to: it is not his choice to be on tour.
Iam just saying….Jay Z is popular to us 80’s babies and if yall are like me, yall wont spend $100 on a concert ticket….hell that can go to a bill!! So I would opt to seeing him on the internet an listening on the radio….just saying….
? he worth how much again? ? It’s always a choice lol
Came to Dallas about 3 weeks and went hard Brooklyn style. Dam near sold out. All races showed up and rapped every song with him. Expensive ticket but you only live once. He’s an icon..Salute to NY