http://www.ny1.com/content/news/212279/j--cole-fans-brave-pouring-rain-for-chance-at--1-concert-tickets/

while i applaud the effort to try to make tickets "affordable", i can't see any mathematical way this isn't a straight up L for the venue/artist.

e.g. the nyc show was at highline ballroom in manhattan.

the capacity of the venue is only 700 people.

so, a $700 gate?
and maybe what? a 10-20k gross in drinks before factoring expenses?
(dare i even suggest them paying his travel fare? lol.)

and that's IF the show sold out. which it doesn't say if it did.

so...

what realistically can a performer charge per show with likely <$20,000 being the maximum return you can offer the promoter?

this is in NYC mind you.

wtf kind of a ROI is that for a supposed "king" of rap music?

i mean even if he only got paid $3000 for the show, it's not a bad gig considering he tours like 325 days out the year.

but dude has lines about charging $70k for shows and shit.
much like his unexplainable record sales (he somehow outsold rihanna twice) without the accompanying hit songs/fanfare...

it leaves you scratching your head.