08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Are concert organisers re-selling booked venue slots?
KUALA LUMPUR: Local rock icon Datuk Awie has voiced his concerns about certain concert organisers allegedly engaging in unethical practices, specifically "selling" booked slots for event venues to other parties at inflated prices.
Awie, drawing from his extensive experience in staging numerous concerts, particularly for his band Wings, described these actions as detrimental.
He said they create difficulties for other organisers, especially given the limited availability of suitable concert venues, particularly in the capital.
"We urge event and concert organisers to operate with integrity. It's unacceptable to book a venue for a specific date only to later resell it to another party at a significantly higher price.
"This is opportunistic behaviour. As a concert organiser myself, I could engage in the same practice, but to what end?
"My partners and I prioritise thorough discussion before taking any action. We avoid indefinitely 'locking in' dates and creating unnecessary complications."
"New concerts are constantly seeking venues, but 'locking' them in without a genuine intention to stage a show is detrimental," he told BH Online, adding that concert venues in the country are already scarce.
Awie said this during the recent Rockology 2025 Tour Concert press conference at the Malaysia Tourism Centre, here.
The Wings frontman expressed hope that venue owners will implement more stringent screening processes to prevent organisers from exploiting the system and causing hardship for others.
"We do not fault the venue management entirely, as they are, after all, operating a business.
"However, it is crucial that they thoroughly vet applications.
"We ourselves have encountered this issue, ultimately forcing us to seek alternative venues outside of Kuala Lumpur.
"Fortunately, we received a performance request from another location, which we accepted," he said.
