In a revealing interview with Bradley Hall, Avenged Sevenfold frontman M. Shadows shed light on the severe challenges facing touring musicians in 2024, declaring that making money from live performances has become "almost impossible" - even for established acts.
The vocalist detailed how post-pandemic economic pressures have created a perfect storm of financial hurdles for bands. Rising costs across transportation, accommodation, and staffing have dramatically increased tour expenses, while ticket sales have declined as fans push back against higher prices.
"When you get to our kind of level, everybody on the crew is 'A list' and they're all being pulled in different directions, so they all make high-end amounts of money," Shadows explained. "More trucks, more drivers, more gasoline, more travel."
The situation has forced bands to rethink their touring strategies. Avenged Sevenfold has opted to explore new international markets rather than continue losing money in established territories. "We can go to the same countries and make very little to no money, or we can go to new countries and make very little to no money. So the idea has been, 'Let's go build the band out,'" said Shadows.
He also addressed the controversial practice of dynamic ticket pricing, where prices fluctuate based on demand. While often blamed on ticket vendors, Shadows noted that artists typically agree to this approach. "The reason dynamic pricing got introduced is because artists and management said, 'Why is the reseller making 10 times what the artist on stage is making?'"
Looking ahead, Shadows expressed uncertainty about solutions to the touring crisis. "Right now it just seems like it's on a complete runaway," he observed. "Maybe people just need to stop going to concerts, and then it resets everything."
The band's experience highlights a growing industry-wide problem, with numerous high-profile tours and festivals already being canceled due to financial pressures. As costs continue rising and ticket sales decline, even successful acts like Avenged Sevenfold face an uncertain future in live performance.