Live Nation is making a furious response to the industry sweeping Blue Dot Fever – as some sell shares in the company
Blue Dot Fever has entered the bloodstream of the music industry.
After Page Six Hollywood’s report on Blue Dot Fever went viral — a new viral name was coined for the chronic disease that causes artists to cancel arena tours due to poor ticket sales — Live Nation’s CEO continued to tweet offensively about the issue, and sold off millions of stock last week.
Amid the flood of BDF reports, Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino started tweeting about the incident, which became a story on NBC News, CBS News, USA Today, LA Times, Forbes, Times of London and many others.
Industrial rag Hits Daily Double called Blue Dot Fever No. 10 on its weekly “Top List” last week – behind titles such as Michael Jackson, Drake, Katy Perry again Harry styles.
On May 7, Rapino responded to an account called Ticketshelp1 with 9.2K followers that criticized the company’s salary at the time, criticizing the giant for giving them tickets. “There is also a focus on many fans who are willing to spend more money on premium items instead of focusing on cheaper prices,” the account said.
Rapino shot back: “Isn’t that what we’re all about? We just sold millions of amp tickets for $30 – making the summer concert more affordable.” That prompted responses from fans, such as, “Yeah $30 for the whole trip when you didn’t sell tickets in the first place.”
(An industry veteran asked Rapino’s P6H, “Why is she tweeting at these people?”)
Rapino also said, when it comes to cancellations, “We’re a bit behind in the industry, so we don’t see any challenges at all. We have about 15,000 shows sold; 100 will be canceled. That would be the norm.”
But the next day Rapino reposted the LinkedIn story with the caption, “Blue Dot Fever is a scalper story.” (Responses from fans included, “If it’s a ‘scalper issue’ why is the tour being cancelled?”) The same day Rapino retweeted the songstress’ piece Dave Brooks called, “Shut up about Blue Dot Fever already,” after Brooks had already appeared on NBC News to discuss the incident.)
Joe BerchtoldLive Nation’s president and CFO, repeated the argument that scalpers are causing “blue dot fever” at an investor conference, according to Music Business Worldwide. “I think [‘blue dot fever’ coverage on social media] it is mainly driven by scalpers who are frustrated that the artists are making too much of the price tour. They want to try to threaten them that if they continue to set the prices of their trips correctly, ‘No, you will not sell the tickets, it will be a shame,'” he said.
A source said of Live Nation executives who accused scalpers, “This is all, ‘These are not droids you want.’ They released their exercises and their surrogates. “
Last week, a senior attorney for Live Nation, Dan Wallit even went into X via a Twitter ticket, prompting a social media user named “Tommy D” with just 448 followers to write, “I’m glad Live Nation’s $2,000-an-hour executive took the time to bash me. I must be doing something right.” Wall replied, “Tommy, there’s no less credible voice on these matters than you. But I’m glad I got into your head.”
Days after disparaging pieces of Blue Dot Fever online, on May 13, Rapino sold nearly $2.95M ($2,941,985.44) in Live Nation stock. Also selling shares that day were Berchtold, who dropped $1.96 million ($1,961,379.78), and Michael RowlesLive Nation’s executive VP, general counsel and secretary of Live Nation, who sold about $200K (196,244.25) on the same day, according to an SEC filing seen by P6H.
There is absolutely no connection to the stock sale in Blue Dot Fever – and maybe Rapino just needed to pay his tax bill, or the contractor for the new pool house or something. The amount he sold is small compared to his total income and assets. (In 2022, Rapino reportedly signed a five-year contract with a $30M annual salary if he meets certain goals, as well as a $17 million annual cash bonus. He was also eligible for an annual grant of restricted stock worth at least $10M, Variety reported at the time.) He has been CEO since 2005.
A representative for Live Nation had no comment. But an insider told us that the stock sale was part of the “normal course of business,” adding that the sale is for tax purposes derived from the stock offering, and that Rapino and Berchtold are still major long-term shareholders.
Back at the BDF, another vet told us: “When artists got the chance to play the arena, it used to be because they played all the relevant rooms in the market that got bigger and bigger until they had enough demand to be on the arena. Now the artists go from the club to the arena, they miss every step in between, and it’s swimming… Basically another version of 10,000 rules and even more money in the middle. if the tour makes 50% to 60% volume, they still make money.”
Another insider went on to say: “This is not the death of the live music business, it is an indication of the problem of where the music business is now, this can be fixed, it was the artists’ business, not Live Nation’s business where the artists are already in it.
After our report, the acts become clear about why they cancel. The Pussycat Dolls said they were struggling with their tour, “after taking a serious look at the North American run.”
Slash movie artist Keifer Sutherland last week he said he was ending his Live Nation “Love Will Bring You Home” tour due to lack of sales. “I will have to cancel my American leg due to extremely low ticket sales,” the social media site read. “I don’t think it’s fair for people who bought tickets, or venues, to play to half-empty houses. I’m looking forward to visiting the United States again at the right time.
After our initial report on Blue Dot Fever, Live Nation noted: “Of all the shows Live Nation has on the books this year, less than 1% have been canceled. That’s no ‘Blue Dot Fever’ – a typical tour year; in fact, 2026 is setting a record with concert ticket sales up 11% year over year.”
