Live Nation doesn’t seem to be afraid of “Blue Dot Fever”

May 8, 2026 Alan Cross 0 Comments 45 Views

“Blue Dot Fever” is the phrase of the week. It describes the horror felt by artists, managers, promoters, and venues when the Tickemaster seating chart shows a sea of blue dots indicating unsold tickets.

Live Nation isn’t panicking, though. A rep told Music Ally the following:

“Of all the shows Live Nation has on the books this year, less than 1% have been cancelled. That’s not ‘Blue Dot Fever’ — it’s a normal touring year. In fact, 2026 is shaping up to be a record with concert ticket sales up 11% for the year.”

Note that the spokesman was talking about Live Nation venues and not some of the stadium shows that are struggling. If we look at everything from 35,000 ft., the real question is “Why did so many artists book tours in venues that were too big in the first place?”

Mike D of The Beastie Boys drops his first solo song

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 42008 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross