Jay-Z brings Obama to Philly, taxpayers get stuck with the bill

It’s well known that Barack Obama likes Rap music. He sent a personal note when rapper Heavy D passed away at 44, despite using an auto-pen to sign letters to families of fallen SEALs. It took Obama until Monday – and Mitt Romney leading by getting there first – for Obama to visit storm ravaged New Orleans.

 

However, he did have time to pre-record a greeting and get out the vote message for rapper J-Z when he appeared in Philadelphia this weekend. That’s fine, in and of itself, but it seems the music event most likely resulted in an additional burden for taxpayers.

That, according to Forbes: Jay-Z, (Obama) and Pearl Jam Bring Music to Philly But At What Cost?

Heckuva job, Barry. Heckuva job!

When it was over, Jay-Z told the crowd that he’d see them next year… but will he?

Despite ticket prices in the range of $75 (for a Single Day Earlybird pass) to $350 (for a two day General Admission pass), Geoff Gordon, regional president of Live Nation, who booked the talent and promoted the concert, indicated to the Philadelphia Inquirer that the tour would still be “in the red.” What wasn’t clear was how much of the loss would fall to the City.

For his part, Philadelphia Mayor Nutter was pleased with the event, noting healthy ticket sales and packed hotels and restaurants. More importantly, perhaps, for a day or so, Philly was the height of musical cool (Bruce Springsteen was also in town over the weekend, playing at Citizens Bank Park). The City was literally atwitter – despite a temporary tech shortage brought on, according to Verizon, by too much cell phone usage – with the sounds of music. And that might be worth something. But how do you value that something? And is it worth the tax dollars used to pay for it?