Springsteen Concert Downloads?

It may not be too long before fans of The Boss will be able to download entire concerts.  Reporting on The Boss’ SiriusXM interview, über-Springsteen chronicler Backstreets reports that “plans aren’t totally hammered out yet, but it’s something they want to try, potentially after each show.”

“We’re trying to keep the surprises coming,” Springsteen manager Jon Landau told Backstreets.

As to when fans might be able to download recent concerts, Backstreets says “active discussions are ongoing and in the logistics phase; there are even hopes to make something happen in time for the next leg.”

Springsteen’s concert history has been unofficially documented extensively in bootlegs covering his career from the 1970s onward.  In many cases Springsteen’s people recorded the shows, often from soundboards.  Throughout the years many recordings ended up being traded by fans or sold as unauthorized discs via classified ads in music magazines.  An official concert download website would definitely experience some business.

Supporting his latest album, High Hopes, Springsteen & The E Street Band return to the road later this month with a series of gigs in South Africa followed by a run through Australia and New Zealand.  So far, no North American dates have been announced.