With several artists canceling all or some of their anticipatedsummer tours, ticket-holders may need to make sure there still is aconcert to attend.
Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Aerosmith, and Courtney Loveall have cancelled some or all of their summer tours.
Britney Spears was scheduled to perform at the New Orleans Arenaon July 30 as part of her Hotel Onyx tour.
But her entire tour has been cancelled because of a major kneeinjury.
In a press release announcing the tour’s cancellation, theinjury was attributed to Spears’ fall on the set of her new video”Outrageous.” Spears underwent knee surgery, leaving her immobilefor six weeks and with eight to 12 weeks of rehabilitation.
Erin Burger, a sophomore in animal science, originally had tosee Spears, but Burger said she was not devastated about thecancellation.
“It wasn’t like I was going to see the Beatles or anything,”Burger said.
Burger said she felt the injury was a legitimate reason tocancel the tour and said she would not have gone to the concert ifSpears had been in a leg cast.
“The concert is not really for the music,” Burger said. “It isfor the show. She can’t put on the same show without [being able tomove].”
Christina Aguilera also cancelled her entire summer tour inApril because of doctor’s order to rest her voice.
In a statement on her official Web site, Aguilera said strainedvocal chords left her with no choice but to cancel the tour.
The statement said she was extremely disappointed to cancel thetour.
Fans who bought tickets through Aguilera’s fan club might bedisappointed as well.
FansRULE, who runs Aguilera’s fan club, has filed for Chapter 11bankruptcy and said it is unable to refund those who bought VIP fantickets to Aguilera’s tour.
In a statement released by her management, Aguilera said she wassympathetic to those who would not be receiving refunds for thetickets — some of which cost several hundred dollars.
“We are writing to let you know how sorry Christina feels thatyou have not received your refunds,” the management’s statementsaid. “We have been actively and aggressively pursuing FansRULE tocause them to refund the money, but, as of this date, our effortshave been unsuccessful.”
So far, Aguilera’s management has encouraged fans to contacttheir credit card companies to cancel the transaction, but has madeno offer to refund the money themselves.
Ina Mudroc, marketing communications coordinator forTicketmaster, said it is the promoter’s responsibility to ensureticket-holders are refunded.
Mudroc said those who buy tickets online are automaticallyrefunded through their credit cards. Other ticket-holders need toreturn to the point of purchase to receive a refund.
Unlike Aguilera’s fans, Aerosmith fans have not only gottentheir money back, but also been the only ones to receive actualrescheduled dates after cancellations.
Steven Tyler and the rest of his band have cancelled four showsof their summer tour with fellow classic rockers Cheap Trick due torecurring throat problems.
Aerosmith cancelled shows in Alabama, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,and Virginia.
But unlike Spears or Aguilera, Aerosmith has rescheduled amissed date.
The group rescheduled its concert in Pelham, Alabama for June30.
Grunge rocker Courtney Love cancelled her summer tour also, butnot because of health concerns.
Love has spent the majority of the year in court battles andrecently turned herself in for felony assault charges stemming fromcharges of attacking a woman with a metal flashlight.
Though Love’s representatives are saying the dates arepostponed, Ticketmaster currently lists 15 tour dates ascancelled.
Love’s spokesman Jill Fritzo told MTV.com it was not just therecent charge that sidelined the tour.
“Due to legal reasons, not necessarily the latest charge, herlawyers have advised her to delay the tour,” said Fritzo. “We areworking on new dates now.”
Brianne Williams, a chemistry senior, said if she was going tosee a concert and found it cancelled she would be disappointed.
“If I really wanted to go, I’d be upset.” Williams said. “Ibetter get a refund.”
Though this summer seems to have been plagued withcancellations, Mudroc said this year’s cancellations are nodifferent than any other year.
“There have been cancellations, but there are cancellationsevery year,” Mudroc said. “We are excited for the concert season,and hopefully people can find other things to go to.”