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Yahoo hawking Eagles tickets

The company is offering advance tickets for The Eagles' upcoming tour, the latest in a string of online promotion deals for Web portals' music efforts.

2 min read
Yahoo will be offering advance tickets for The Eagles' upcoming tour, the latest in a string of online promotions that are fast becoming the "killer application" for Web portals' music efforts.

The company said Tuesday that it will offer tickets four days before general ticket sales begin for the band's seven-week "Summer Tour 2002." The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company said people will be able to purchase tickets online Thursday for The Eagles' concerts in Reno, Nev.; El Paso, Texas; Portland, Ore.; and Moline, Ill.

The Yahoo deal underscores the company's ongoing battle with rivals to win top musical acts. Three months ago, America Online snagged teen idols 'NSync, offering advance concert tickets and other promotions. And last year AOL let members buy advance tickets to Madonna's "Drowned World" tour. Response was overwhelming: The company said it sold its block of tickets in less than two hours, leaving some unhappy subscribers unable to get in on the deal.

Microsoft's MSN has also played in the concert wars, hosting pop superstar Janet Jackson in an online chat and giving MSN subscribers the chance to purchase a limited number of presale tickets to her concert tour.

Analysts have said that online events have been one of the most efficient ways to boost participation in any kind of online service. Yet they also point out that there are more than enough pop superstars to go around.

Despite the competition, Yahoo remains confident that marquee names such as The Eagles will win consumer devotion. Previously, the company tapped the band Weezer, offering fans advance tickets as well as discounts and a limited-edition gift from the band.

As an incentive to attract people with the Eagles deal, Yahoo is holding a contest in which Eagles fans can win front-row concert seats and enter an auction for a trip to the Las Vegas concert to meet the band, among other things.

Yahoo said that advance- and general-ticket information will be announced shortly, and that it will offer fans rare Eagles music videos and a special online radio station on an Eagles site starting April 18.

The Eagles, popular for songs such as "Hotel California" and "Witchy Woman," last toured North America seven years ago in their "Hell Freezes Over" tour, according to Yahoo. The band--whose members are Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy Schmit--has sold more than 120 million albums worldwide and has won four Grammy Awards.