Is it only the economy, or is something else happening too?
Low ticket sales have forced Rihanna to “postpone” (read “cancel”) six Last Girl On Earth tour dates in the USA and downsize venues for some of the other shows. She even cancelled the big tour launch concert. Last week in Sacramento, California, she became teary-eyed on stage as she thanked the way-smaller than expected audience for coming out to her concert.
Before she had to cancel the opening date of the new tour, Rihanna described Last Girl On Earth as “Visually and sonically it’s going to be a big step up from the last time. We just keep growing, and this time it is a massive production that I cannot wait for.”
Judging by the lackluster ticket sales, many former fans disagreed with Rihanna and decided that they could wait.
So what’s happening here? Are folks tiring of Rihanna?
Is her new “edgy” stage image turning off former fans? Did the domestic troubles with Chris Brown remove some of Rihanna’s magic? Was it the gun tattoos?
Or… is the trouble on tour just a reflection of the poor economy, low consumer confidence and way overpriced tickets by the greedy promoters?
Hard core Rihanna fans and her management team say the low interest by the public is all about the economy – but the truth might be a little more complex than that.
True, the economy and consumer confidence are bad – very bad – and Rihanna isn’t alone in cancelling and downsizing shows. Big names like The Eagles, 50 Cent, U2, the Jonas Brothers, Christina Aguilera, Dixie Chicks and even American Idols Live! cancelled tours and dates. Price could be a factor in turning off fans with the good seats for some big name shows pushing US$500 to US$900 per bottom. That’s crazy! Even US$100 is more than people have these days.
But some shows are thriving and even adding dates: Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Muse, Taylor Swift and James Taylor & Carole King have been selling out. Why should these artistes be doing so well, while others play to rows and rows of empty seats?
“I’ma rock this shit like fashion, as in
goin’ til they say stop
And my runway never looked so clear
But the hottest bitch in heels right here…
…Where dem bloggers at
Where dem bloggers at
Where they at, where they at, where they at?”
excerpts from “Hard” by Rihanna
Did Rihanna leave some fans behind?
Rihanna is no longer the fresh-faced “sexy in an innocent sort of way” singer that Bajans and the world embraced four short years ago. In the last year and a bit her raunchy stage performances, revealing costumes, gun tattoos and chaotic personal life have for many people combined to erase the memory of the B’town home girl who appeared in the Barbados tourism commercials following her initial successes.
Rihanna’s music, style and professional image have changed big time – and so has her public image. Her current fans and management team would say she has “developed as an artiste”, but many of her old fans don’t like the “development” and long for the Rihanna of a few years back – music and image.
Has Rihanna left some old fans behind? Could that be part of the low turnout, or is it all the economy?
We’ll give our own Shona the last word before our readers have their say. Here’s what Shona thinks…
“The economy has hurt Rihanna’s Last Girl On Earth tour, but that’s not the only reason for the low turnout. For many old fans, Rihanna’s new look, lyrics and image aren’t “edgy”, the word is “skanky”. She has become a poor example for youth.”
Further Reading
Los Angeles Times: Summer concert ticket sales plummet. Are you seeing fewer shows this year?
Los Angeles Times: Musical acts’ summer tours encounter heavy weather
RnB Music Blog: Rihanna Gets Emotional on Last Girl on Earth Tour Sacramento California
BFP
Dear Rihanna, please resign as our Barbados Culture and Youth Ambassador
Barbados Free Press 
Rihanna is soooo yesterday. You have put your finger on the crux of the matter BFP – she’s abandoned what was attractive about her, and assumed a ten-a-penny hard-core, foul-mouthed, gangsta persona, and the public has a big enough choice in that regard without settling for third best, whether or not she insults them by displaying her genitals on stage.
Why am I not surprised?
If being slutty is the best image for her career along with the accusation that she is into embracing demonic influences, then if I was her I would certainly return to the good values that made many love her.
Well, I am not really too surprised. I too prefer the old Rihanna, who kept to her roots as a Caribbean individual. I think that she has compromised way too much of herself and has allowed her attitude and personality to change in a big way. Fame came to Rihanna very early and without a mother figure/some stable relative to keep her grounded she has just become a puppet for the industry. I personally find her outfits really “slutty” and not edgy; and she seems willing to do anything to maintain popularity eg: frequent tattoes, funky hair styles, outrageous outfits… How is it that other artistes like Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift etc… are still selling and managing to top Forbes list etc… I mean even Brittney Spears with her pitfall has made Forbes; and one would think that by now with Rihanna’s popularity that she would be doing even better.
I think people are getting tired of the same ole same ole with Rihanna. Her performances are lack luster and she basically struts up and down the stage belting out notes. Unlike her counterparts whose voices are more versatile. I mean Gaga is weird and skimpy, but she can sing well and play the piano exceptionally. People want more than fireworks and robots on stage– they want an honest performance. They want to see her dance and sing– especially if you can’t play a musical instrument.
As your article points out, many other groups have had to cancel tour dates this year, due to low ticket sales, not just Rihanna. I wish that envious Bajans would leave her alone if they have nothing constructive to say.Crabs in a bucket.
Enough of the ‘envious bajans’ ‘crabs in the bucket’ bs. Some of you are encouraging her in down right nonsense … for what? Hoping that she spends at least a million dollars in Barbados.
Pulleeeze!
Rihanna is a daughter of Barbados – Barbadians still have PRIDE. Please tell her to have a little!
I don’t think that the people commenting here are necessarily jealous. I for one am not. I do not need to tattoo myself eons of times or dye my funkadelic to feel that I am worth something nor strutt around 3/4 naked to get attention. As a young woman she needs to deport herself with dignity and pride.
Her sales for tours are dropping because people are getting tired of her lack of variety and versatility as ab artiste. She is wearing out the cuteness.
Is this the sales for concerts in the USA only? friends went to see her in London & said the show was amazing & I understand sold out. As you say other huge bands are also cancelling tours/shows so stop picking on this girl. She’s doing great. If you don’t like her you don’t have to listen to her.
An artist must either grow or become irrelevant. The great ones are still here creating and mastering their art after decades while the ones who get stuck doing the same one trick burn out very quickly. What your seeing now is the world getting tired of the one trick, yawning and moving on.
If you were honest you would mention that she is not the only one who is going through this slump.
This falloff is affecting all entertainers in the US. It is the economy, stupid.
It’s not that people don’t like her. She is not bringing anything new. I visit the ultimate rihanna website a lot and usually ppl will bombard each blog about with loads of wonderful comments. But within recent times barely anyone is commenting.
I see we are getting our info from Mediatakeout again LOL she announced 25 dates and Canceled 6 one of which she has replaced at a different venue.
She just did 30 dates in Europe to sold out audiences in 15,000 seat arenas and this is the shit you print.
I would advice you do a little research before taking what is written elsewhere. The fact of the matter is that the word “free” in your name should not give you license to print whole sale what is written with the only the number of hits it will gather and no interest in the truth. but then again that is all your authors are interested in as well.
@Gabrielle
The reason nobody goes to that site is because the site just wait until the information is posted on Rihanna Daily.com and steal it now we all go to RD direct and no one spends time on any of the other sites any more.
For information about her the only place is Rihanna Daily. Com the rest is junk
@Gabrielle
You are such a liar !!!! Rihanna has only canceled 6 tour dates out of 25 and Christina Angular had to cancel her whole tour as well as the Eagles the whole a lot of the summer festivals have had to canceled dates as well. The state of the US economy has every one in trouble this summer. Rihanna shows are not doing as bad as some of her peers.
She sold out Maddison Square in 24hrs.
“There’s no denying Rihanna has star quality.
Whether souped-up bubblegum pop is your thing or not, it’s hard not to be impressed by the Barbadian singer’s dazzling, big-budget live show, which burst into town Tuesday night.
A crowd of about 12,000 mostly high-pitched teenage girls took in Rihanna’s Last Girl On Earth tour at the Saddledome. And seeing as the decibels remained high throughout the 90-minute concert, it seems very few went away disappointed.
Why would they? Rihanna gave them everything they’ve come to expect from a chart-topping superstar — hit singles, sexy dance routines, laser-light show, slick set design and costumes that wouldn’t look out of place in Lady Gaga’s closet.
The 22-year-old appeared quite dramatically — and rather elegantly — on a pedestal which glided forward from the back of the stage.
Wearing a flowing black dress covered red lights, Rihanna was greeted with Bieber-like hysteria by her adoring fans.
The din grew even louder when she removed her first outfit to reveal a much skimpier costume for the second song of the night, Hard.
Rihanna then straddled a bright pink army tank that matched her dancers’ bright pink machine guns. As far as concert themes and imagery goes, this one was pretty weak and perhaps a tad insulting to those who have actually served in the army.
One lucky fan got the thrill of her young life when RiRi grabbed her out of the crowd, gave her a bat and let her go wild on a beater car that appeared on stage for Shut Up and Drive.
Rihanna’s goth side came out — and by ‘goth side’ I mean she sang alongside dancers dressed as freaky, giant spiders — during the darker dancefloor anthem, Disturbia.
She nearly pulled off the rocker look during a pumped-up version of the single, Rockstar 101.
Slash she ain’t — but she is way prettier and sure knows how to pose with a guitar. She can also rock a pair of shiny, black thigh-high boots like nobody’s business.
While Rihanna had the luxury of an excellent band, they certainly didn’t need to prop her up. Though sometimes a little sharp, Rihanna’s vocals sounded crisp and clear during renditions of some of her biggest hits, including Rude Boy, Unfaithful, Stupid in Love and Don’t Stop the Music.”
Source: CalgarySun.com
Excuse me demi what lies are u accusing me of? I wasn’t the author of the headline. I never even mentioned Xtina so, wheel and come again before you go wildy accusing someone of being a liar. The truth is some consumers may be getting tired of her image and lack luster performance. You can’t just blame the economy. Taylor Swift with her country music still didn’t have to cancel. Why are you so defensive? Lol. Is Rihanna putting food o n your table?
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BFP’s photo collection says it all. How sad. I’d forgotten what RiRi looked like only a couple of years ago. Look at her now. Hard, cold, tired, cruel, used up.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you our Barbados Ambassador for Misguided Youth and Whore Culture.
@Demmi: Firstly, I am not the one responsible for the headline and article. I was simply sharing my opinion based on what was reported here. I never mentioned Xtina if you check back you will see exactly what I wrote. So you need to find the real liar. The fact is Lady Gaga, Bieber, and Swift didn’t have to cancel any of their shows. Isn’t it the same economy here? So that being said I think you need to fall back and not erupt out of your breeches honey. Is Rihanna putting food on your table or something?
@ I like Barbados ummmm… in Trinidad and Tobago they have had an unemployment rate of under 5%. So check your facts first before you start talking about the so called “other islands”. We bajans are a little too over proud and feel we’re the best thing that has happened to the region. And please remember that some of the businesses in Barbados are actually owned by people from Trinidad, so in essence Trinidad is kind of responsible for keeping unemployment @ 5% too. Also,the other islands have their strengths. so let us not get swell headed.
she is not talented, sorry. She made it this far because of her looks nothing else.
I havent read the other comments yet but I think it might just be people tired seeing she face. Especially with pop music with an rnb urbanish edge which is what she brings to the table the fans are somewhat fickle.
To me its somewhat like for instance rappers Ja Rule and 50 Cents. Remember in the early 90s you couldnt go two seconds without hearinga jah rule song on radio and he pelt out bout 4 albums straight quick quick and then bram people tire of he an he disappear. same with 50 cents, was all over the radio for two years and bram dun
Now granted sice rhi rhi aint a rapper she has a bit more staying power but has she even been in the industry 6 years yet and has at least 4 albums under her belt. people like variety, she need to chill, stay out the controversial news too or just make some cameos doing choruses on a few hot songs and then come back like late 2011 or something. ya cant go so hard so long and last
Personally I don’t think Rihanna can sing at all, but this is true of most pop singers. I find it hard to feel sorry for her because she turned her back on Barbados. If one were to look at for instance Shakira and see what she has done in her native country (free concerts, large donations to schools etc…) one would be hardpressed to be thrilled with Rihanna. Whenever I see her now the expression “bulldyke” is what comes to mind.
One group says she has done a lot for Barbados and the other one says she has done nothing. Which one is it? You surely can’t please everyone. Rhianna could do many charitable events in Bim and they still wouldn’t be enough it it did not happen in your Parish. You just can’t please some people because somebody always gets the bigger half.
Concert ticket sale in North America are doing as well as planned. Old news. Reasons such as they want her back in the studio to cut a new album. What? There isn’t any money in record sales. Plus the artist ends up owing the record company for the recording sessions and videos. No money there. Concerts and sales of memorabilia is where the money is.
I am still waiting to hear they great voice that everybody was talking about back in 2005. Most times she sound like a boy or a squeezable rubber toy. Great looks , technological enhanced voice and marketability is it.
People like an artiste to grow and change but she went from a “nice” girl to sleaze in just a few years. Control your image and don’t let the money men do it.
It is so sad to watch some of these women get chewed up by the music/show business industry.
@Slap Happy – “squeezabe rubber toy” – Good one.
There is no single answer for the cancellation of the concerts. In my view if you are going to spend all that money on a ticket in these hard times it has to be worth it. And clearly it is not being seen as worth it. Look, times hard here in Bim, but people still spending $500 on a piece of string and a fig leaf for Kadooment. Because they feel that day will be enjoyable and memorable.
Let me get off the fence for a bit. Rihanna has been a cash cow for some people who have been milking her popularity and will not stop until there isn’t another drop. They have not been interested in building a life-long career for her, they have been interested in $$$$$$$$$$ and more $$$$$ quick quick quick. Rihanna needed to build herself as an artist and not as a gimmick – she needed to figure out what and who she is and what and who she stands for. And stick with it. Bouncing from genre to genre will make the money but WHO then is the target audience? (I really cringe when I see the attempted rock star videos, I mean really cringe). People will become tired of the “theatricks” and eventually we will move back to REAL artistry when pop artistes don’t sound like “squeezable rubber toys” (wish I’d though of that one myself). Currently it’s all about looks and controversy. You know if Aretha Franklin came on the scene now she wouldn’t make a rusty CENT.
I think Rihanna has lost some ground with her first fans because of the wufless-looking antics that were shocking entertainment at first but now it’s just “Oh dear, there she goes again…..” until eventually people have started to be disinterested in the silliness.
Also “the higher the monkey climb etc etc” – I see people complaining that she can’t sing live for beans. (or should I say “peanuts”?)
Somebody is sure to cuss me out (that demmi person most likely) but at one time I was an AVID fan that made a point of buying (not just downloading) her albums and wishing only the best for her. But she has disappointed many. Including me. Too often.
hello, Rihanna has a major nasty attitude and is not a great singer…. surprised it took this long!
Look at the photo collage by free press. Rihanna went from pretty girl to elegant young woman to tired old slut in four years. A shame for her and Barbados.
It can’t be her new image. Lady Gaga doesn’t exactly scream wholesome and she’s selling out. I think many didn’t know Rihanna was on tour. I certainly didn’t. It is the economy as well. Muse and Lady Gaga there is buzz everywhere about them touring so that’s no surprise that they’re thriving. Despite Rihanna’s fierce image she’s been pretty low key lately and no one’s heard what she’s been up to. Her image isn’t it.
Ticketek in Australia just announced 2 for 1 tickets – that is basically half price, to try and get people to the concerts.