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SCMP Reporter

ROLL up, roll up for the most expensive pop show in the world.

  If it is any consolation to Hongkong folk reeling at the cost of tickets for Michael Jackson's August 15 and 16 concerts at Sha Tin racecourse, the prices we are paying are unprecedented in the pop world.

  The $1,600 ''best seats'' cost a staggering five times as much as those currently being sold in Europe for shows by Jackson's main competitors, Madonna and Prince.

  When Madonna stages her Girlie Show at London's Wembley Stadium in September, the most expensive seats cost GBP27.50 (HK$318). Tickets for Prince's British dates at the end of this month cost GBP23.50.

  The irony of it all is that promoters in Hongkong may end up losing money on the shows even if they sell all 56,000 tickets. Revenue from ticket sales could exceed $40 million but co-promoter Florence Chan of Artist World Enterprises estimated the cost of the entire venture at $78 million.

  ''Basically, nobody knows if they will break even or lose money,'' another co-promoter, Cheung Yiu-wing, said.

  ''It might just be that some people will come away with a good name simply because they staged the concert.''   Jackson is being paid $18 million and Andrew Bull of Arena Group Ltd said that is in line with the star's international asking rate.

  Hongkong fans nevertheless do not seem to mind parting with the equivalent of a domestic helper's fortnightly wage packet for a two-hour show.

  Student Rebecca Lee Chui-shan said: ''I have never heard of such high prices, but if I really like his songs I will pay to see him - even if it costs $3,000.''   Another teenager, 14-year-old Winny Chan Wing-yee, was more conservative.

  ''If Michael Jackson were my idol, I would pay $1,600 for a concert ticket. But if the price were over $2,000, I think I would not be able to afford it.''   That does not necessarily mean Hongkong children have allowances that would make the Sultan of Brunei blush.

  ''I plan to get the front row, $1,600 tickets,'' said 16-year-old Anup Mirchandani during a visit to Pacific Place.

  ''I'll probably get a job, get some money off my parents, get some money off my friends to pay for it.''   Dinesh Sajnani, 17, said he had already taken on a job so he could afford his $1,600 ticket.

  Not everyone felt that way, however. ''I'll probably not go because the ticket price is too high and my parents don't like him that much,'' Alana Fruean, 12, said.

  ''The most I can afford is $200. More than that and I won't go, even if he is my favourite singer,'' Hui Ka-kay, 11, said.

  ''I'm not a rich person,'' Henry Tsang Lung-hang, 19, said. ''I'd rather buy his record than go to the concert if the price is that high.''   ''If I pay $200 and end up sitting in the back where I can't see anything, and basically pay for a video screen, then that's not worth it,'' said another.

  Even Canto-pop idol Leon Lai Ming suggested promoters should take the public's interests into consideration when fixing prices.

  Perhaps as a result of the public's mixed feelings, ticket sales through the American Express Applause Priority Booking Service have been brisk but nothing like Jackson's Japan experience last December when it took 48 hours to sell out eight concerts.

  American Express sold 9,000 tickets in the first 60 hours of offering $1,600, $880 and $280 tickets to card members. That represented 34 per cent of its allocation. Whatever tickets were left, plus all of the cheapest $280 tickets go on sale to the public from Tuesday through Tom Lee Music outlets.

    However, one entrepreneurial fan, who wished to remain anonymous, is already planning to sell binoculars to concert goers whose seats are far from the action.



Thriller that is bad for your wallet