Feb 11
After coming out, country singer Chely Wright reported a 50 percent drop in record sales. And now Ricky Martin, who knows some of his fans have turned into haters, is facing similar — but more serious — problems. Ricky’s grand return to touring isn’t going as well as hoped. Concerts, where artists make the most of their cash these days, might be one of his biggest liabilities, “with floor seats and prime lower-level seating still available days after tickets went live on Ticketmaster.com.” Might it have something to do with only one single from Musica + Alma + Sexo being released (the album is “heading” to the Top 10), and all of Ricky’s press being dedicated to talking about his gayness?
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I sort of get the Chely Wright thing. She’s got a country music fan base and I don’t imagine they’d be as receptive to her coming out as Ricky Martin’s fans were/are. Besides, it really wasn’t a surprise when he came out. (Rumors had been circulating long before and those photos on the beach with his *cough* male speedo-wearing “companion” sort of screamed: Gay!)
Granted, Messr Martin has a lot of Latino fans who are probably just as homophobic but there is another consideration: ticket prices are exorbitant and we’re in the middle of a recession. Many artists have cancelled their tours – Christina Aguilera, Rhianna, John Mayer, for example – do to lackluster sales.
And I really like your blog. I only wish I had discovered it sooner.
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