Madonna Complaints
September 12th, 2008 § 49 Comments
Madonna played Wembley last night and many are complaining that the sound was awful as well as the fact that her show started late and therefore ended very late leaving many people stranded and even some having to sleep rough on the streets of London. So where to complain about Madonna concert?
Those wishing to complain about the Madonna gig should write to info@livenation.co.uk stating their full contact details (name, address, phone number, email), the nature of their complaint (please be specific, e.g. what you could or could not hear etc.) and your seating and booking reference numbers (these will be on your tickets).
Warning! Live Nation are only able to deal with the purchaser for those of you who bought off eBay. (That includes me!)
You can also write to Madonna via her website here.
Live Nation will be handling Madonna’s new studio efforts, tours, merchandise, DVD releases, sponsorships, licensing agreements, fan club, Web site, and TV and film projects until 2017. They also other large acts including U2.
For such a control freak she certainly didn’t bother to ensure any quality of the venue and systems. She’s let tens of thousands of loyal and decade enduring fans down. Please do another movie so we can laugh at the failure of it
Such a disappointment, half of block 529 walked out as soon as she started, if only she was aware of this, im sure she would be insulted. All you could hear was bass and could chat to your neighbour without having to raise your voice, certainly not ringing left in your ears that you would expect from a concert!
If that was’nt enough, we could not even see one screen, so without hearing or seeing was left quite bored and wanting to go home (which people did right up to the end, not staying for the finale).
But watching videos on utube today, it looked like there was much going on and would have been great to watch and will therefore have to get a dvd of the concert to be truely satisfied, and giving more profit to the madonna fund of course!
The late start didn’t particularly bother me. Her performance and the stage layout however did. We had top price seated tickets at the side of the stage and couldnt see her when she was on the main stage at all other than when she was at the very front. All the effects at the back of the stage were lost on us. Not only did we have a restricted view but her vocals were appalling. The one song she sang well was the Evita ballad. When her voice was going she would shout the lyrics at the audience. She mimed to several of the songs – and thank god she did because she was so badly out of tune and flat at times that miming probably saved her.
I saw the last tour and I loved it, she absolutely shone.
AFter last night I’m not sure I will ever want to see her live again.
The stage was badly set up so that a quarter of the audience would have had a restricted view and these people would be the ones who paid top prices for seats. The dancing was also shocking… it was unoriginal, lacklustre and very very disappointing.
A huge huge let down. Very very disappointing.
I’ve been a fan since I was big enough to ware lace gloves and last night was the first time I saw her in concert – what a HUGE disappointment. I could barely hear her and there were not enough big screens to see her either! I feel very let down.
the poorest concert I have ever been to… sound was terrible and she mixed all her songs with nothing actually reconizable, a plain simple unmixed uncompromised song would have been great, thanks for wating our time and money Magdge… (express ya self, hey, hey, hey, hey)
First visit to new Wembley and first time I saw Madonna. Sound was so bad, all bass and distortion, couldn’t hear Madonna’s vocals. Concert looked visually stunning, but sound was so poor and out-of-sync with big screens. Poor effort from Wembley and Madonna. Won’t bother next time.
I had been waiting for that concert since I was 3 – the only one I have ever been allowed to go to (gratuitous sex simulation) and could now afford.. I almost ended the night in tears. What a let down, I was in block 526 and couldn’t hear anything! It was so hard to even focus on the screen let alone on Madonna. It’s the most I’ve ever spent on a concert ticket, and the worst concert of the 30 odd I’ve been to. I just can not believe it! I felt so bad for the people who were seated further away, and even sorrier for those who had come from far around the country to see her.
Madonna’s career has been made by those of us who have bought have albums and supported her over the years. I was lucky to get a lift back to South London, it took my friends 3 hours to get home to East London because the trains stopped running! What an absolute palava. You’d think some sort of compensation would be in order.. how about it Madge, a free intimate concert for those of us who didn’t get the concert they showed up for?!
I been a fan for 25 years and have seen her on every tour and they have all been amazing.I have not seen the latest tour,main reason being it was at wembley and i hate stadium gigs.I have seen reviews on other concerts at wembley and people have commented on the sound quality being poor.
As for her starting late,all the shows i have seen have started after 9.
i dont need to write a letter to tell you it sucked!
i could’ve bought £100 worth of petrol with the ticket money
better use!!
@Nick – no-ones interested in your opinions about *other* Madonna tours or shows. This is about a specific one. If you didnt go to that gig then you are in no position to make a comment.
Thanks for that Jon.I know i wasnt at that show,i was just saying that i have read about poor sound quality at other gigs there.I am sorry to hear that people were left very disappointed as all the other shows so far have had such great reviews.
Get your money back, don’t they do that over here? If you were in the States, you could get a refund, no questions asked. Then again, over here, nothing is FREE!
I am a big fan of hers and yesterday I was so dissapointed! I was looking forward to go to her show and finally it wasn’t worth it! The least I can say about the sound is ‘awful’. I got a headache during the show and me and my friends were so happy when she was singing her give it 2 me track as we knew that the show was about to finish! I was thinking to leave earlier but it was impossible as I was in the middle of the pitch standing area… it would have taken hours to pass through all these people. I was wondering if her crew ever heard the word soundcheck! The concept of the show was very good! I really liked the videos and the choreography but this means nothing when you can’t listen and enjoy to the music! I disliked that she wasn’t really talking to the people apart from I can’t hear you – Are u having a good time? – thank’s god it didn’t rain – motherf****s (as usual) and that’s it! On her confessions tour she had more things to say than the things above! This year it didn’t worth the money, the waiting (she was 40 mins late but who cares she’s the queen) etc etc
Been a fan since i was 10 years old and seen the other previous tours which were great, but this one was appaling… i was soo disappointed and i also left after 45 minutes. Something i thought i would never do.
Yes the sound was sooo bad and couldn’t see properly…i felt really bad also for the people above me and on the right of me, but many people left, right and centre left also…
The screens were so small, the stage was to small also…
I still buy her records, but won’t go to her concerts again.
For me she was doing the show for the fans on the floor and the corporate people on the lowerside seats..and that also made me upset..many fans dedicate themselves to her but don’t always have the finances and after years i think i spend enough on the woman and so do many others, but to hear that companys buy up tickets and the people who DON’T care for her and maybe see for madonna fans a wonderfull show but for them it’s not “their thing” get good seats and fans get a raw deal especially with the sound and rest of the night.
Its all about money for her now
I could go on, but the last i will say is MADONNA, LEAVE THE GUITAR ALONE ALSO
Was in the middle tear seating to the left and sound was no better, Was way to much bass to start with but from were I was they seemed to sort that out a bit as it went on, But was still as if the sound was cutting in and out, Funny thing is, when we got to Wembley Park we asked a tube guard about train times back and he said,And I quote “I think she is running late(Madonna)as they are having trouble with the sound check” How right he was.
Well, I went to the concert with friends. We were running late anyway and arrived to find that she was even more of a diva than we had thought. Not sure what excuse will be used for her being late, but I feel for the people needing to get the tube home. During the time waiting outside the Stadium, there were numerous announcements to say that there would be an extended tube service between 10.30-11pm……..I’m not sure who on earth organised that but what a joke – someone within the organisation team obviously has a sense of humour!
Going back to the concert itself, the sound was diabolical – I cannot believe that the sound team did not act quickly to rectify this during one of of Madges dissapearing acts! We could hardly see any of the screens either. The whole concert was a total washout.
We went to her last concert at the Arena and that was probably one of the best concerts I have ever been to, this one in compared to that – well, not sure I can type what I think of it!
i ve sent an email to livenation..i hoipe you all did..their response was to sent my contact details and describe the problem..which i did..they say they ll talk to the sound engeeners and it might take weeks…i hope this isnt a trick for us all to forget about it..i ll be emailing again in a couple of weeks..
i dont expect getting my money back even though i didnt get what i paid for…..but i ll keep emailing them about compensation just to prove a point…
i mean why wait weeks for the verdict of this disaster?? the main point is that we couldnt hear the music on a music concert/. it wont change anything if they say it was the madonna’s people fault, wembley’s fault or a bird that went into the speaker fault..the point is that i didnt get what i paid for and i want something done..
i hope u all who emailed (and i hope you all email them) wont forget about this and keep bugging them
I feel robbed and am stunned by her arrogance. I feel there should be compensation for such a disaster. What a waste of time and money.
Well, I really don’t know where to start……
I’m really upset and disappointed with my experience on Thursday night. I travelled down from Inverness to London to see Madonna, who has been my Idol since I was 11. My friend who was with me joined me on the train at Newcastle.
I have waited 20yrs to get to see her, and thought that I would have had the best experience seeing her at Wembley. Spending 8hrs on a train and a journey across London to stay in a dodgy hotel, and to then not be able to see her, let alone hear her, was just heartbreaking.
My friend and I had already been stung £110 each for tickets by SOS Masterticket, and in a last hope attempt, bought tickets with Ticketmaster. We knew that our tickets were poor ones, but we didn’t expect to pay £65 for a ticket and then have to guess what song she was singing. We were in block 529 right at the back and couldn’t even see the screens that were at the side of the stage. Loads of people in front of us left half way through, but we stuck it out to the end. I couldn’t believe it was over so quickly, and the atmosphere was awful. We could only see Madonna if she came out onto the walkway that came out from the stage. We couldn’t see any of the graphics that were going on on the stage, and really didn’t have a clue what was going on.
I feel extremely let down and really sick about the amount of money that I spent to come and see her ( as she didn’t do any dates in Scotland ) and I would never go back to ‘The great Wembley’ again.
We must all make sure we complain and pursue Live Nation for a full refund as this constitutes breach of contract. If we all insist and threaten legal action they will pay up.
I’ve just emailed both Live Nation and Ticketmaster, here’s hoping that one of them replies.
What a rip off Madonna was! Not to mention the £85.00 she cost me to get home because she could not be bothered to start on time!!
I think refunds are in order – I hope the “pre-madonna” reads these comments (bet she has someone to filter out the negative comments)
GIVE US A REFUND MADGE!!!!
I was at this concert and even though i was at the front and did understand why people were having problems, you’ve also got to take into account now the Health and Safety losers that will only allow the speakers to run at a certain volume. It sucks, i’m not saying it doesn’t, but being a sound engineer myself i know how difficult it is to get the correct balance when your being told you can only have the music at a certain volume compared to last years attitude of “turn it up as much as you like”
What a waste of time and money, how wembley/the organisers or Madonna not do anything to reimburse us all will be beyond me if it doesnt happen.
If your not happy with something you’ve purchased or service youv’e been given you are compensated in one way or another this should be the case here
Madge is O V E R !
A crap album now this…she’s ALL about herself and the $.
well i cant belive,that no one has mentioned the skipping:What was that all about.I dont care if Madonna can skip or not,put down the rope and sing.did anyone else notice,the crap wigs?Bad dancing flat voice,it was the most badly directed piece i have ever seen.The Romanian old people ,nothing against Romanians,but i came to see Madonna,not some family knees up.The dancing was tired the mimeing was obvious and the sound crap.But the Britney video was great.but i came to see Madonna to su up.late flat boring poor poor poor!!!
My wife and I traveled from Norway to London just to see Madonna. I have been on 4 U2 conserts and many other too. Now I am back in Norway and I am just very upset and disappointed with my experience on Thursday night.
join the group on facebook for ‘madonna, we want a refund!’
here is the link http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=25012384139
…Well well well, I thought it was just me & the wife being miserable moaners coz were in our 40′s. Madonna’s Wembley concert was the first big concert by a current big ‘star’ we have ever been too & probably the last. We were sat in block 117. The bass was awful, too heavy. The treble was too tinny, sound was just crap. I found the video screens too small & the video content was gaudy & trashy…too much bad flashing eye candy. I paid 260 for the tickets with a face value of 220 & i wish i’d flogged them to a tout & done something else. The performance of Madonna was unimpressive too, why didn’t she take it easy & belt out a few numbers sat down instead of fartarsing around the stage? She is 50 for gods sake (i couldn’t help wondering if she had entered the menopause, 50 yr old birds cavorting just dont do it for me, probably needs plenty of lube down there these days)…..She came on late…who does she think she is?….Madge..You were crap!
Essays like this are so imortpant to broadening people’s horizons.
What happened to the singer Robyn supporting Madonna on the Sticky and Sweet tour??????
View an interview with her here,
http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-gb&from=IV2_EN-GB_entertainment_celebrity_news_article&fg=gtlv2
p.s You need to put ‘Robyn’ in the search at the top, to search the MSN videos.
Me and my boyfriend bought these two tickets to see the show. I have been to every single madonna’s concert and all of them were fantastic. My boyfriend has never seen Madonna live and he was very excited, same as me. Despite that the show was delay for 45 minutes, the most appauling and dissapointing thing was the sound. I believe that some speakers broke and the show had to go on regardless … I mean, the sound was so bad that that i had to persuade my boyfriend not to leave the stadium. It was so so painful, from the second song onwards. And i still believe that something broke and nothing to do with sound ingeniering .. We could see the stage but not even close enough to appreciate anything, and when you cant see the show and you can not hear it… well you might as well wait for the DVD. I am a Big fan of Madonna but this time i feel completly RIPPED OFF !!
–
I was in block 529 and not only could i not hear the music i couldn’t see the screens. The tickets should never have been sold to me. I have contacted livenation and ticketmaster complaining. Today i complained to BBC WATCHDOG and i would advise everyone else to do the same. The more people who complain to watchdog about the show, the better chance we have of it being brought up on air. If you bought a Madonna DVD or CD and it wasn’t up to scratch you would be entitled to take it back to the shop to get a replacement or refund so why should a concert be any different.
tt
Oh thank goodness, I thought it was just me….my first concert since in ahem 27 years and my last……if your going to go to one concert I thought Madonna has to be that concert and yes I was sat up in the Gods so didn’t expect to see her in the flesh but did expect to see her on the screens, but what screens, two lousy screens for those down on the pitch. The sound was appalling, I thought it was me, but girl next to me agreed. What a waste of money and soo disappointed. We should get our money back, I suspect we won’t but surely even Madonna on reading these reviews must appreciate what we are saying…… and yes starting late whats that all about, I had to leave at 10.10 to get a train back South, to be honest I couldn’t hear her so it made no odds, lots of bass though!!
Disgusted by RUDEST fans at a concert EVER! In the gold circle area but went to toilet and concert just about to start so when got back loads of fans rushed to get ready for show but then could not see where friends were. Stood near where thought friends were and looked around. Then guy behind me asks when am I going to move as he was here first! Get lots of attitude from him so get fed up and move to again near where think friends are. Look around and then get 2 guys threatening me to move as they did not want anyone obstructing their view (I’m only average height). After more threats moved to another area and looked around to be told by another guy that I was not welcome to stand near them and that had to leave! My friends told me that they were getting evil looks and other friends told me about the arguments they’d had. Apparently if you’re not trendy and gay that part of the audience that is that way does not want you around! Luckily stood next to a (taller)bloke and girlfriend and another (taller) gay guy who were actually welcoming. Otherwise the concert itself was ok but much better when I saw her a few times at Wembley where sound louder and everyone is seated (so no attitude!)
Thanks for supplying the live nation contact. I love Madonna and think she puts a lot of effort into what she does, but if you weren’t fortunate enough to be at the front then you couldn’t see or hear anything! I’m from Australia and Madge has only toured there once – we always miss out, so I was excitied to be seeing her in London. I shouldn’t have bothered. I kept apologising to my friend because I thought I’d scored bad seats. Now I know it wasn’t just me. Refund please!
Anyone know what the story is with the small print on the back of the ticket saying complaints must be made prior/during the concert? I would complain, but that clause makes me wonder if it’s worth the bother.
Join facebook group:
Madonna concert was a let down at Wembley 11th Sept
Join facebook group:
Madonna concert was rubbish at Wembley 11th sept (Bad Sound)
I was right up the front, brilliant sound, brilliant show, brilliant dancing! the whole thing was amazing. I feel sorry for the people that couldn’t hear cause it was outstanding! get pitch tickets next time and stop slagging her for everything just cause uz couldn’t hear it! boo bloody well hoo!!
The small print on the back of the ticket saying complaints must be made prior/during the concert? I would complain, but sadly had to run to catch the last train home!!! Not that Madonna was bothered how people will get back home, she had helicopter waiting!
I too had a terrible time at the Madonna concert I had big expectations, why wouldn’t I. I had thought the view may be blocked by people standing up but would at least have the privelage of HEARING her sing. I love LIVE music and have been to hundreds of concerts and this is without doubt the worst I have ever been too, yet should have been one of the best. The biggest let down and rip off I have ever known.
I too have emailed Livenation and will pester them until they ackowledge we did not get what we had paid for. After all, if my new telly had no sound or the screen was much too small I would get a refund….it’s the principle!
I urge everyone on here to complain to Livenation, as for some reason they need to assess the number of complaints – doesn’t matter that it has been in the press!!
I have sent several emails to info@livenation.co.uk and had no response.
I wonder whether the non-existant communication skills they are showing now are part of the route cause of the poor show at Wembley, are they really up to hosting performances on this size if they can’t even respond to a disgruntled customer that spent nearly £300 pounds on tickets with them.
The whole experience has left a sour taste in my mouth and I will certainly not be putting any more money their way as I am disgusted by the lack of communication or apology.
This is the reply I received from Live Nation:
Thank you for your email, I am very sorry you did not enjoy the show as we intended.
I shall respond to you after discussing your comments with Madonna’s production team and the concert promoter and thank you for your patience whilst I do so. As sound is such a subjective matter, we will need to gain a full understanding of the level of complaints and the alleged affected areas. This may take a few weeks to collate, though I shall respond to you as soon as I am able.
Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.
I was then asked for my ticketing details …
****Update****
—- Live Nation did eventually reply.
They had never had so many complaints and I think need to learn how to set an auto reply on their mail to let people know their queries are being dealt with.
Anyway long story short a full refund is being arranged, well done to LiveNation at least for trying to make amends for this catastrophe of a show.
I feel soooo sorry for you lot who had crap sound at Wembley Stadium, I went to the Cardiff concert, opening show. The tickets were cheaper, and the stadium is smaller so you can see her better anyway. I think you guys just picked the wrong show