TOLLETT TALKS TO THE TIMES

After locking in Frank Ocean as a headliner for Coachella 2023, Goldenvoice co-founder Paul Tollett submitted to a rare interview with the L.A. Times.

During a wide-ranging conversation with Steve Appleford, Tollett echoed the words of AEG Presents chief Jay Marciano in a recent HITS interview about the first concert either had attended in more than a year: Tyler, The Creator’s 6/29 secret show at the Roxy.

“That’s the only thing I’ve been to and, man, it felt great,” Tollett, recalled. “Just being in there, and the energy... I missed it.”

Tollett is concerned about an expected traffic jam in the concert business, as all the acts with rescheduled 2020 tours hit the road alongside acts who’ve booked tours for 2021 and ’22.

“Ticket prices concern me,” he acknowledged. “Everyone is trying to make up for lost time. I’ve seen a bump in everything out there, not [just] music, but food prices, gas, everything. Everyone’s put a little something [extra] on, and that can’t last.”

Tollett confirmed that all the Goldenvoice festivals that have gone on sale this year are already sold out, including Coachella, Stagecoach and the Just Like Heaven show in Pasadena.

“It’s a good market right now, but we don’t want to push it,” he said cautiously. “We just had to wait a couple of years.”