Recommendations of the Editorial team
After the farewell concert by Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, a contribution from Tom Morello caused a sensation in the BBC. It reported that around $ 190 million in donations for houses and hospitals for children had been collected with the concert. This number was quickly celebrated by media such as “Billboard” as a record sum of a benefit concert. “Metal Sucks” estimated the income from streaming offers alone to around $ 150 million.
Sharon Osbourne contradicts the donation information
In an interview with “Pollstar”, which was led a few days before Ozzy’s death on July 17 and was now published, Sharon Osbourne contradicts this information. It describes the reported sums as “ridiculous” and refers to faulty press reports. “I wish we could take $ 140 million with just one concert,” she said. The actual sum has not yet been finally calculated, since in addition to the income, the expenditure of the bands involved would also have to be offset.
Streaming numbers are inaccurate
Sharon Osbourne also explains that the final billing will take about six weeks. In addition, merchandise sales would still be incorporated after the concert, which is why the final amount could still change. She also considers the streaming numbers already published to be imprecise: “The streaming offer was bought 275,000 times, but many rock clubs have acquired tickets, so that 200 to 300 people watched”.
Despite the ambiguities: a successful farewell
Despite the ambiguities, Osbourne emphasizes the success of the concert. It was a “phenomenal event” and the first time that a musician celebrates his farewell by livestream and donates the income. For Ozzy Osbourne, it is “the best way to end a long career”. The concert took place in the stadium of his favorite football club Aston Villa, which she described as a “perfect storm”.