The Black Keys had a little bit of a rocky 2024 because of the cancellation of their area tour, reportedly as a result of poor gross sales, in addition to backlash to that bizarre crypto present. Now, in a brand new interview with Rolling Stone, core members Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney spoke for the primary time in regards to the numerous fiascos.
“The important factor that we realized right here was what number of administration corporations are instantly linked to an organization that runs each single facet of promotion on this nation,” Carney not-so-subtly stated of The Black Key’s final 12 months. “This complete trade is so intertwined from ticketing to promotion to the administration firm. However primarily as artists — and that is the factor that we care probably the most about — it’s nearly inconceivable to speak about this…. You’re coping with administration corporations that co-own festivals with this different firm. You’re on the [whims] of those individuals who produce other pursuits.”
When discussing the cancellation of their “Worldwide Gamers Tour,” a debacle that resulted within the band firing their administration and public relations groups, Carney and Auerbach blamed the grim state of the music trade. With out ever mentioning particular names or firms (as a result of, as they put it, “It’s all very fucked up, and the underside line is that we will’t even actually speak about it as a result of we gained’t have the ability to work”), the duo alleged that their administration prioritized their trade companions and relationship with a robust ticketing firm (context clues inform us it would rhyme with Cricketblaster) over the pursuits of the band.
“We stored having to maneuver shit round for a Manchester present as a result of there was a venue that our administration firm co-owned and wished us to play, and it wasn’t prepared,” Carney defined. “There’s a focus of connectivity that eliminates competitors… Our tour, we had about 10 [arena] exhibits that weren’t doing nice. They have been simply in rooms that they shouldn’t have been in. So in any state of affairs like this tour, we’d’ve needed to take one on the chin and discover new venues to play in sure cities, however as a substitute we have been suggested to cancel the entire tour. We have been informed … there have been different venues being booked, and it was all going to get into extra intimate rooms, and it might be nice. However that wasn’t correct. That didn’t exist.”
“The factor that most individuals don’t perceive is that once you management ticketing, promotion, and all these items, and then you definately get into proudly owning the venues after which having shared pursuits with administration, it simply turns into tougher and tougher [for artists] to do enterprise,” Carney continued, concerning the hazards of consolidation within the music trade.
Later within the interview, the band defended their resolution to play the “America Loves Crypto” live performance, an Akron occasion organized by the Stand with Crypto Alliance political motion committee, as a necessity after dropping out on the income of the “Worldwide Gamers” tour.
“It was quite simple: We had misplaced all of our revenue for the 12 months,” Carny stated. “We had retainers for those who we have been working with. We received provided some huge cash to play a present, and we noticed that the Black Pumas had performed the identical occasion and we have been like, ‘E-book it.’ It’s that straightforward, bro.”
“After all we noticed all of the shit coming in, however it was like, ‘What are you going to do?’ We have been informed it was a bipartisan factor. It was what it’s. It was very small. It was in our hometown, so we received to go dwelling and see our of us. I’ve positively seen my identify in unhealthy mild within the press earlier than, so it wasn’t something fucking new … If us taking part in a live performance for 300 folks goes to sway the entire state’s vote, then we now have larger fucking issues, bro.”
Elsewhere within the interview, Auerbach and Carney addressed criticism over their excessive ticket costs, seek advice from the occasions of 2024 as “trauma,” and talk about their plans to study from the expertise and transfer ahead.
Earlier this week, The Black Keys introduced a brand new run of dates. The “No Rain No Flowers Tour” will see the band acting at extra modest theaters and previews the band’s subsequent album of the identical identify, which they stated will likely be launched later within the 12 months.