🔥 Live Nation’s Blunder, Tour Failures & 4 Songs That Don’t Suck
Welcome back to Songs That Don’t Suck with your host, Mark Bradborn — the ear-curator in a world of noise 🌍🎶. This week, Mark’s got thoughts, and he’s not afraid to share them. From hacked customer data to crumbling arena tours, the first half of this episode feels less like a podcast and more like a controlled detonation of justified frustration 💣. But don’t worry—there’s great music ahead.
📰 Hackers, High Fees & Cracked Tours
💻 Live Nation Hacked. Again.
Over 500,000 customers’ data was reportedly stolen by a hacking group who either want ransom or are flipping the info on the dark web. So what did Live Nation say?
🧠 “The incident is not expected to have a material impact on its overall business operations or financial condition.”
— Live Nation, to shareholders
Translation: We’re fine. Thanks for asking. You? Not so much.
Mark’s take?
🔐 Change your passwords. Lock your credit. And maybe finally break up the Live Nation/Ticketmaster monopoly, which controls over 70% of major venue ticket sales.
🎟️ The Great Arena Tour Collapse
The Black Keys and J.Lo have recently pulled the plug on arena tours—allegedly due to low ticket sales. But ticket prices topping $200 for nosebleeds? Yeah, no thanks.
Lesson of the week: High streaming ≠ sold-out shows. And yes, viral doesn’t mean viable.
🤘 The Bites Still Bite
Mark caught his favorite live act, The Bites, for the fourth time this year. Though their set in Cleveland was only 25 minutes, the crowd vibe was electric ⚡. They’re heading to the UK with The Dead Daisies this fall—go see them, Brit listeners. You will not regret it.
🎶 This Week’s Songs That Don’t Suck
✨ 1. Alchemy – JohnnySwim
📝 Back with a haunting, love-soaked ballad.
Mark’s been waiting months for the official release—and it doesn’t disappoint. Orchestral arrangements, soul-soaked harmonies, and a lyrical depth that hits like a movie soundtrack.
“This is Carl & Ellie’s montage from Up… in song form.”
🪩 2. Everyone’s a Winner – Byron’s Brigades
🕺 Retro glam with disco-funk attitude.
Think: Kiss’s “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” meets Ace Frehley’s “New York Groove.” It’s glossy, groovy, and unapologetically summer-ready.
💔 3. My Fault – Shaboozey feat. Noah Cyrus
🎤 A cross-genre breakup anthem.
Shaboozey straddles the line between country and hip-hop, and this collab with Noah Cyrus makes heartbreak sound like a radio-ready confession booth.
🎻 4. Beautiful (Unplugged) – Overpass
🎙️ Raw. Honest. Chilling.
This stripped-down acoustic version brings cello, soft strumming, and Radiohead-era melancholy. If you’re a fan of Coldplay’s Brothers & Sisters EP or The Bends-era Radiohead, you’re gonna feel things.
🔊 …and I quote…
“You don’t schedule a full arena tour and suddenly decide the fans would prefer small venues. You got slapped with the reality of your popularity.”
— Mark Bradbourne
🧠 Pro Tips from Mark
- Don’t trust monopolies with your data 💾
- Stop reusing passwords 🔐
- Support small & medium venues—they’re the real heart of music 💓
- Don’t buy the hype. Buy the record 🎵
