HISTORY-MAKING BACKSTREET BOYS COMPLETELY RE-DEFINE THE CONCERT INDUSTRY

DATE: AUGUST 20, 1999

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/MARCEE RONDAN/TODD BRODGINSKI

HISTORY-MAKING BACKSTREET BOYS
COMPLETELY RE-DEFINE THE CONCERT INDUSTRY
AS TICKETS FOR THE ENTIRE
`SEARS PRESENTS BACKSTREET BOYS
INTO THE MILLENNIUM TOUR'
SELL-OUT IN ONE DAY
ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 14;

765,000 TICKETS SOLD, GENERATING AN ESTIMATED
$30 MILLION IN SALES

This firestorm of activity at the box office for the `Sears Presents Backstreet Boys Into The Millennium Tour'–which runs September 14-December 2–is unprecedented in the concert business, underlining what the LOS ANGELES TIMES has already described as "Millennium Mania." An estimated $30 million in ticket sales were generated despite the comparatively low and fan-friendly price for a show and production of this kind. Tickets for most concerts along the tour are $38.50 and $28.50, including all fees (except for any TicketMaster surcharges).

Beyond the first 40 dates selling out, 13 additional shows were instantly put on sale to accommodate the unparalleled demand for tickets, which had fans lining up days in advance all over the country. These extra shows represent an additional night in the following markets: Fort Lauderdale, Washington DC, Boston, East Rutherford, Uniondale, Philadelphia, Chicago, Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose, Salt Lake City, plus two shows in Detroit. In the New York area alone, the BACKSTREET BOYS–NICK CARTER, HOWIE DOROUGH, BRIAN LITTRELL, AJ McLEAN and KEVIN RICHARDSON–are now performing a total of four shows (two each at Nassau Coliseum and Continental Arena). Meanwhile, an additional show in Las Vegas went on sale late in the weekend.

This North American trek follows the group's triumphant 42-city European summer trek. The action-packed two-hour concert–which features elaborate, state of the art staging, lighting, pyrotechnics and costume changes–is being presented in the round with unobstructed views for all fans. The set list will feature nearly 20 songs (including their current Top Ten smash "I Want It That Way"). This leg of the tour will surpass that of the already elaborate European productions, including four additional lighting trusses each positioned in a corner of the arena.

"It's impossible to put into words exactly how the BACKSTREET BOYS are feeling right now about this overwhelming show of fan support across the country in a single day. And when people see what the BACKSTREET BOYS are capable of with this show, they're only going to want more," says Jeff Kwatinetz of The Firm (management for the BACKSTREET BOYS). The Firm's Michael Green notes: "We're ecstatic. The response is overwhelming and validates the BACKSTREET BOYS' place as the pre-eminent leaders in pop music today."

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This is what promoters across the country are saying:

Jack Boyle, Chairman, SFX music group (largest promoter in the country): "I'm extremely impressed with the continued strength of the BACKSTREET BOYS. These are some of the fastest sell-outs we've ever seen."

Joe Battaglia, box office manager, Continental Arena: "We could have done 10 shows here." (The two shows sold out in 50 minutes. With the two shows at Nassau Coliseum, the BACKSTREET BOYS sold more than 60,000 tickets in one hour in the New York area)

Bob Perkins, EVP ticketing, TicketMaster Online/City Search: "BACKSTREET BOYS tickets sales showed some of the heaviest Internet usage yet on our website, including percentages as high as 29% of all sales at the Pepsi Center in Denver."

Sue Boyd, box office manager BJCC Arena, Birmingham: "I sold more tickets and sold them faster than any show in the history of the building including Garth Brooks." (18-minute sell-out)

Don Fox, President, Beaver Productions: "We had the fastest sellout in the history of the Pyramid (Memphis arena) and a 24-minute sell-out in New Orleans."

Rich Conan, box office manager All State Arena, Rosemont, IL: "Biggest show in the building in the last ten years."

John Itsell, Cellar Door Concerts: "Fastest on sale ever in Detroit." (Three shows sold out at the Palace of Auburn Hills in 40 minutes)

Marilyn Hauser, box office manager, Palace of Auburn Hills: "We had the longest line in the history of the building."

Matt Wieland, box office manager, Fleet Center, Boston, MA: "Fastest sell-out in the Fleet Center history." (Two shows sold-out in 20 minutes)

Bruce E. Kapp, President, SFX touring: "This was bigger for us than the Beatles or Elvis."

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Meanwhile, the group were back home in Orlando, FL last week to shoot the video for their upcoming single "Larger Than Life." The song –co-written by the group's Brian Littrell–will be the second release from the MILLENNIUM CD (Jive), which has been positioned at #1 on the BILLBOARD charts for the majority of the last two months. The "Larger Than Life" video was directed by Joseph Kahn, who also lensed the video for "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)."

The updated tour dates are as follows: