Clark Howard's Tips

Concert tickets and wine prices going down

July 8, 2005

The concert business suffered severely last year because ticket prices were just too high.

It discouraged musicians because, despite the fact that they were making money, no one was coming to the shows.

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As a result, ticket prices are dropping like a rock.

The biggest concert promoter, a division of Clear Channel, is selling tickets in the back of the house for less.

Granted, people who are up front will still pay a lot to see a show.

But those in the back will get a big break. Big bands like U2 will continue to charge very high ticket prices, about $100 a ticket. But other less known acts will charge much less.

In other party news, wine prices are going down.

You may have heard of Charles Shaw wine, sold exclusively at Trader JoeÕs supermarkets.

It costs $1.99 a bottle and is nicknamed Two-buck Chuck.

Now, there is another cheap, good wine known as Four-buck Fred. It costs $3.99 a bottle and is also sold at Trader JoeÕs.

So, this is your year for concerts and vino!

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