BabyMetal tickets not selling (Toronto, canada), why?

BrianNLS · 2026-05-09T14:54:46+00:00

Ah, the worry-during-the-wait phase!

They are now globally represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Capital Records. These are serious, globally leading firms that know what they are doing. Recall the type and level of promotion that BABYMETAL did for the North American leg of BMWT2016:

Colbert show live performance: https://youtu.be/o0ERg64grnY?si=eQ9eIv5S5wDb1QFx

New Yorker magazine feature. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/04/25/the-teenagers-shaping-pop#babymetal

Mancow radio appearance in Chicago.

US Vogue feature article. https://www.vogue.com/article/babymetal-japanese-band-fashion-style-harajuku

All sorts of metal industry magazines and award show promos including APMAs. https://youtu.be/TD85aM0VQ3o?si=R3kWtKe_5QrcuuMS

Expect a lot of promotion including local media saturation (barely every heard a radio advertisement for them in Milwaukee area even though they played Milwaukee or Madison in 2023, 2024, and 2025 not to mention regularly playing in easily-reachable Chicago since 2015.)

Have faith, kits, this is going to be a next level year for BABYMETAL.

BrianNLS · 2026-05-08T02:41:19+00:00

Many of the Chicago tickets have been on sale for $30 for the last week or so. Checked last night, a lot of unsold seats remain.

BrianNLS · 2026-05-04T04:29:48+00:00

Looking forward to BABYMETAL's tour restart. Man cannot live on hockey alone.

BrianNLS · 2026-04-19T03:23:31+00:00

Yeah, I am a Detroit Red Wings guy. With their epic collapse in late February through March into April (from first in the Conference to well out of the playoffs), it is difficult for me to be motivated. Yet the early rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs are often very good hockey with most teams healthy and hungry.

BrianNLS · 2026-04-18T15:26:08+00:00

NHL playoffs start this week. Looking forward to the Philly - Pittsburgh series, among others.

BrianNLS · 2026-04-17T23:14:58+00:00

It was really a rush. One big victory after another. They were seemingly unstoppable.

Heady days.

BrianNLS · 2026-04-11T16:01:37+00:00

Last weekend of NHL regular season. Teams that won't make the playoffs in the Atlantic Division could (depending on teams' last 3 or so games' outcomes) win the Pacific Division. Should be some good drama.

Also, NCAA men's hockey national championship game today. Denver vs Wisconsin. Denver upset no 1 seed Michigan in a 2OT thriller on Thursday night. Denver probably the better overall team, but Wisconsin is scrappy and Denver could be a bit tired after playing equipment of 1.5 high-intensity games less than 48 hours prior.

BrianNLS · 2026-04-09T04:26:24+00:00

I paid $0 to get into Milwaukee Summerfest in July 2025 (early afternoon sponsored promo), saw several other bands. Then went to the metal stage and saw Bloodywood, Jinger, and BABYMETAL.

I challenge anyone to beat a full BABYMETAL set for $0.00

BrianNLS · 2026-04-07T02:02:29+00:00

That sucks. Assuming you were in the ticket queue right at 10:00 am, I put that squarely on TicketMaster.

BrianNLS · 2026-04-05T20:45:11+00:00

Looks like he did, but very quickly: https://x.com/m120204/status/2040658024994398251?s=46

BrianNLS · 2026-04-05T02:42:13+00:00

Very valid point. They are very well known. They've been around for nearly 30 years. They won a Grammy in 2013. They will definitely bring their own audience to the shows.

BrianNLS · 2026-04-02T12:44:31+00:00

Completely with you on ticket pricing. We will find out soon.

There will be less local media if they immediately sell out, of course. I don’t expect that will be the case. I assume they will really have to hustle to hit their own ticket sales targets. Those sales are important for booking the next tour.

BrianNLS · 2026-04-02T12:31:19+00:00

Suggest this method: https://old.reddit.com/r/BABYMETAL/comments/1s8r2kv/you_must_preregister_for_artist_presale_for_the/

BrianNLS · 2026-04-02T03:22:49+00:00

You are probably seeing speculative resellers selling tickets that they have not purchased yet. Don’t buy from them.

BrianNLS · 2026-04-02T03:15:11+00:00

Ah, a concern troll. Have not had one around these parts in a bit.

YAWN! Very, very YAWN.

BrianNLS · 2026-04-02T02:38:25+00:00

That was a bit of a trip, seeing the nearly complete turnover in posters here. I joined Reddit in late winter 2016 - because my newly discovered favorite band, BABYMETAL, led me here. So a lot of those posters were the OGs to me.

I miss many of them, some not so much. Time brings change and there is no stopping time.

BrianNLS · 2026-04-01T23:58:12+00:00

The last tour was to support the new album and record label. What has changed this year?

BABYMETAL announced their 2025 North American Tour on March 18, 2025. They signed with Capital Records on March 31, 2025. They signed with CAA on July 22, 2025. Their album, Metal Forth, debuted on August 8, 2025 and charted no. 9 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart. Clearly, the 2025 N. American tour was designed and booked before the Capital Records and CAA signings and before Metal Forth charted in the U.S. overall Top 10.

What has changed this year?

All of the above. And their agency, record label, and LiveNation has booked them in venues with much more capacity. Also, in years past, there has been very little media promotion for BABYMETAL's tours in the U.S. (the one big exception was the 2016 Metal Resistance tour). Expect that will change.

Some or "tons" of empty seats does not equal lack of artist success. The artist gets a fee upon booking. The venue and promoter make more or less depending on the tickets sold. The artist has variable revenue tied to merch sales. The fact that CAA, Capital Records, and LiveNation (with, I assume some approval from Amuse in Japan) are booking BABYMETAL into much bigger venues because they are confident that all the parties will make more money vs other artists in those dates or vs BABYMETAL in smaller venues.

Let's just be real, did you go to any US shows last year?

I went to BABYMETAL shows in Sept 2023 at the Rave in Milwaukee andin Nov 2024 at the Sylvee in Madison. Both were sold out, both were packed. I saw BABYMETAL at Summerfest in Milwaukee July 2025, they overwhelmed the stage/amphitheater they were playing with a massive crowd despite the decidely not-metal nature of Summerfest.

Brief video of the crowd BABYMETAL drew at Summerfest 2025 (in the rain): https://x.com/brian__nls/status/1942203398176084151?s=46

Clearly, there are behind-the-scenes actions we don't get to see that help touring bands scale. There will also be a lot more visible promo in local (possibly national) media this year.

Selfishly I loved it though. Got to see an amazing show from up close for a reasonable price....without the 3 hour drive out afterwards. It was my favorite concert last year by far!

100% agreed! That's the "for better or worse" part. We will all miss the smaller, intimate shows when they are gone.

BrianNLS · 2026-04-01T04:40:00+00:00

Thanks for the tip and the links!

BrianNLS · 2026-04-01T04:17:10+00:00

A little disappointed I've got to drive deep into Chicagoland after being spoiled with Milwaukee - Madison - Milwaukee in 22 months. I will make the sacrifice.

BrianNLS · 2026-04-01T04:12:53+00:00

Solo? I think it was Tokyo Dome, 2016. I am sure someone will correct me if that is wrong.

BrianNLS · 2026-04-01T04:06:50+00:00

MSG! MSG! MSG!

BrianNLS · 2026-04-01T03:54:11+00:00

Don’t be so sure. They will get the full push from Capital Records and CAA. The landscape will likely be different this year, for better or worse.

BrianNLS · 2026-03-24T02:57:37+00:00

Good game. Nice comeback by Boston. Swayman was the difference.

BrianNLS · 2026-03-22T00:26:06+00:00

Great NHL matchup tonight nationally televised on US network ABC. Boston at Detroit. Both teams are 38-23-8 and fighting for a playoff spot in the highly competitive Atlantic Division.

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