M. Shadows on Touring: “It’s Incredibly Hard to Make Money Right Now”

Avenged Sevenfold frontman M. Shadows has pulled back the curtain on the harsh realities of touring in the post-pandemic world.

Speaking to Bradley Hall, Shadows didn’t sugarcoat it: touring is harder than ever. Rising costs—think fuel, flights, hotels, and crew wages—are making it nearly impossible for even top-tier bands to turn a profit.

“When you’re at our level, everyone on the crew is the best of the best,” he said. “But that means high costs—more trucks, more drivers, and more travel. We know where we stand financially, and it’s tough. If it’s hard for us, you can imagine how much smaller bands are struggling.”

Shadows also pointed out that many bands are currently cancelling tours because the numbers just aren’t adding up. Inflation has pushed ticket prices sky-high, leaving fans frustrated and bands in a lose-lose situation. “People don’t understand how ticket pricing works,” he explained. “They blame Ticketmaster, but rising costs hit every aspect of touring. The venues, the lighting, the staging—it all adds up.”

Dynamic pricing—where ticket prices rise based on demand—hasn’t exactly helped the situation either. While it aims to prevent scalpers from profiting, Shadows admits it’s still a bitter pill for fans to swallow. “Most people would rather their money go to the artist than a reseller. But no one wants to pay those prices in the first place,” he said.

To adapt, Avenged Sevenfold is focusing on untapped markets. Shadows highlighted Indonesia, now one of the band’s biggest streaming audiences, as an example. “Going to these places and planting a flag helps build a future. Even if it’s not profitable now, it pays off later,” he said.

For Shadows, the key is shifting perspective. “You’ve got to stop grinding in the same places, playing to the same people, and making no money. Instead, go where the fans are excited to see you, even if it means losing money. Long-term growth matters more than short-term profit.”

Avenged Sevenfold’s upcoming European tour in June 2025 will continue this strategy. Whether the industry will stabilise remains uncertain, but Shadows is clear: change is the only way forward.