After coming out, country singer Chely Wright reported a 50 percent drop in record sales. And now Ricky Martin, who knows some of his fans have turned into haters, is facing similar — but more serious — problems. Ricky’s grand return to touring isn’t going as well as hoped. Concerts, where artists make the most of their cash these days, might be one of his biggest liabilities, “with floor seats and prime lower-level seating still available days after tickets went live on Ticketmaster.com.” Might it have something to do with only one single from Musica + Alma + Sexo being released (the album is “heading” to the Top 10), and all of Ricky’s press being dedicated to talking about his gayness?
Kamikapse
This is why all the self-righteous assholes who keep harping about celebrities staying in the closet can go fuck themselves…
Right Wingers Are Socioptahs (John From England)
Duh. People are homophobic, they hate the gays but heck, as long as it makes self righteous gays who do nothing for gay causes happy!
Also, his clientele was like 90 percent female. Elton johns was not female. Dougie Howser broke no female hearts when he came out as gay, nor did TR Knight who can’t get arrested and lance Bass was hardly the fancied on in that group!
But then doesnt Queerty make it is business to out celebs like Matt Bomer??
Fitz
Duh, he hasn’t had an American hit in 10 years. Why WOULD he sell out a stadium first time out? Kids don’t know who he is, and us grownups have jobs and don’t have time to go to shows.
James Davis
@Kamikapse: Because his lackluster sales couldn’t be because the entire industry is seeing lackluster sales because there is a pretty bad recession going on, and he hasn’t had a big cross over hit in 11 years? No that couldn’t be the reason. Sure his coming out could depress a few sales but let’s be honest here, without another big hit album Ricky wasn’t going to sellout arenas.
Ps. I say this as someone who really likes him, but still wouldn’t pay to see him at the moment.
justiceontherocks
Not an A-list star any more. Only was for a short time.
DR
Most concerts in recent history have found themselves struggling, even the American Idol tour. People don’t have the extra cash to shell out on expensive tix, plus all the other stuff which comes along with going to a concert (parking, food, beverages, souvenirs). Add to that the fact that the album just got released and has only had one real single, this is probably not a good time for a tour.
bccampbe
Maybe it’s because his first single sucked.
Skeezix
Like Bccampe said, his first single sucked. Like DR said, many concert tours are struggling at the moment. Like Justiceontherocks, James Davis and Fitz said, he hasn’t had a hit in years, a problem which existed long before he ever came out.
All that makes Kamikapse’s first comment, about all the “self-righteous assholes” who keep “harping” about celebrities staying in the closet going and fucking themselves, all the more dumb. But why pay attention to facts, when you can rant?
SJT
@Kamikapse:
Yeah, when I hear ‘gay experts’ talking about how safe it is to come out and how much things have changed, I’m like, Get out of your little, gay-friendly bubble. Sure some views have changed, but if you think the majority of Martin’s fans (which are Hispanic, a culture that has had long-held views on masculinity) will get behind him (no pun intended) on this one, you’re drinking the Kool-Aid.
Josh
The reason he isn’t selling tickets isn’t because he’s out and people hate the gays, it’s because Ricky Martin is no longer relevant as an artist. Hell, if he hadn’t come out, he would be selling even fewer tickets. To the vast majority of Ameircans, Ricky Martin is a funny memory from 1999.
Jake
Um when’s the last time that a bonafide former superstar like Janet Jackson had a hit? Her career has completely stalled so it’s no surprise that someone like a Ricky Martin, Jewel, Alanis or Toni Braxton reach their expiration date. The music business is tough and there’s always a newer thing out there. It’s hard to have a career like a Britney Spears let alone a Madonna/Prince career if you’re a pop artist, they’ve lasted b/c they’ve changed their sound and re-invent. Ricky’s hot but his music simply isn’t good.
MickkW
Ricky Martin last toured the USA in 2007 and his tour was a success, just because you don’t listen to Latin Music doesn’t mean Ricky Martin has not been making music and touring successfully.
HD G Vid
the pic said : “meh..”
ewe
I have to agree that he has no singing talent and it is also true that teeny boppers are not all that interested in watching 35 or 40 year olds gyrating their hips on stage panting to make the next note. It is not personal and him being gay has nothing to do with nothing.
mikeincleveland
a lot of it has to do with the fact that the record is terrible.
instead of going George Michael and making it a dance/crooner hit, he tried to do this fake Latin electro-op with a bunch of songs that lack the melody structure and song hooks of ANY of his previous hits.
sucky record + sucky economy + double sucky concert industry = poor selling tour.
he should have done HOB shows, underplayed a tour, brought intimacy back to his stage shows (dumping the pyro-techniques and female back-up dancers) and gone UnPlugged. sell out a tour easy and go around claiming people love you THAT much.
too many of these stars of 10 years ago don’t realize still (and their managers and labels won’t tell them) that a lot more has changed in the music industry besides the fact that you have to Twitter to your fans that you just woke up.
ForeverGay
I wish I was surprised by gay people’s lack of support but I’m not. Gay people like to see gay celebrities come out yet don’t want to support them. It’s only been four days since the tickets went on sale. I think Ricky’s US tour will go on and be successful.
Palto
I know this will sound ludicrous given her immense popularity at the moment, but even Lady Ga Ga will eventually end up singing to half empty arenas if that. The flavor of the month is very fickle.
Ealan75
That sucks, but it’s a tough time to make money from big concerts. People can’t really afford to attend. Didn’t Janet Jackson have to cancel half of her tour a few years back because of poor ticket sales. It happens.
It probably doesn’t help that Ricky Martin hasn’t really had much of a presence in American pop music in the last 10 years. But I wouldn’t worry too much about him. In Latin American music, he’s still as big as Elvis.
afrolito
@Ealan75: “In Latin American music, he’s still as big as Elvis.”
No he’s not, and that’s a ridiculous comparison. His popularity in latin music has been cooling for years, and his coming out is not gonna make him any hotter.
As far as his presence in American pop music, he was NEVER a real superstar here, and most people would struggle to name one song of his besides Livin La Vida Loca, which is the pop cultural equivalent of a novelty song. His appeal has never been about the music, which has always been mediocre at best. It was his sex appeal that attracted swooning women and girls. Those were the people who were filling his audiences around the world. They aren’t interested in hearing him hearing him sing “she Bangs” anymore.
DR
@ewe:
I watched him perform recently on some show or another. I don’t care how old he is, his hips still gyrate with the best of them, he’s hella sexy, and the ladies still drool over him. And he was hardly “panting to hit the next note”.
2cents
Ricky’s autobiography was #5 on the NYT Bestseller List the week it hit. Ricky added a 2nd & then a 3rd date in Puerto Rico, so someone’s buying tickets in the Latin community. We’re seeing him at Caesar’s Colosseum in April–you know that dive Celine performs in. Saw him in 2007, the show was sold out & the screaming didn’t let up for a minute. And he TORE up the place–I was seriously afraid the tier was going to give, it was shaking so much from everyone dancing. Go see him live & then you can talk about how washed up & talentless he is.
Larry
This report is misleading. Ricky’s CD opened on Billboard at #3. Even Lady Gaga concerts aren’t sold out in one week. This is just more negativity that doesn’t show the whole picture and serves no purpose.
jason
Opening at number 3 on the albums charts is not such a great thing in today’s depressed market. When you look at the actual sales figures, Ricky’s new album sold about 32,000, which isn’t much.
Elton John is different because Elton was truly talented for starters and, secondly, he came out after his string of singles and albums successes. The investment was already realized.
In order to thrive as an openly gay man in the music industry, you have to be EXTREMELY good at what you do. Alternatively, you must remain in the closet and pretend to be heterosexual in order to exploit the devotion of the mindless females who somehow think you’re going to be their next boyfriend.
Red
Larry @Larry:
But it only sold around 30,000 copies. And next week he will see a massive drop(in the 50%-70% range) because his hard-core fans have already bought it.
JoeyO'H
I was surprised by the lack of “hit sound” in his first single which surprises me with hit maker Desmond Child at the producing helm.
As far as tickets, we’re spending it on seeing Miss Janet Jackson rather than Ricky. Sorry Ricky!
Musica + Alma + Sexo
Musica + Alma + Sexo is a very good album with very good reviews.
Check out this dance song, “Mas”/”More”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8u_dZ0a7hU
Musica + Alma + Sexo
Lyrics from “Basta Ya” / “Enough”, song about gay closet:
Getting closer to the truth / I’m seeking the way to tell the world what I can no longer keep silent / I let a tear escape / From this prison where emotions are punished without pity / Against everything, I will be with you /
CHORUS: Enough! Of imprisoning what I feel / And denying myself what I want / Enough! Of condemning the voice I carry inside / And faking my sincerity / Fear no longer scares me / Enough!
Reason awakened me / The words I kept in silence got tired of waiting / This is were my revolution starts / In my hand I carry the flag that will defend the heart / Against everything, I will be with you / CHORUS
http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2011/02/yeah-but-is-it-good-ricky-martins.html
From now on, I will be loyal to myself / I will erase the pain / In the story of my life, each line screams ‘Enough!’ / CHORUS
soulchild
I see ricky every time he tours. He really puts on some of the best shows i have ever seen. He can actually dance and still sing very well simultaneously, unlike britney, madonna n gaga. And all of you who say his career is over or that he isnt an a-lister, just cuz he isn’t huge here doesn’t mean he isnt huge elsewhere. His career has lasted over 25 years! He is highly respected in the latin community. And those of you who say he isnt just dont know what you’re talking about. He is still a well respected artist.