POP & ROCK

In a rare look into the economics of pop benefits, the Associated Press reported Wednesday that a concert arranged by Willie Nelson to help 400 depositors who lost their savings in a Waco, Tex., bank failure raised only $4,096 after promoters deducted almost $26,000 in expenses. Nelson’s concert Monday night drew about 3,500 people to the Heart O’ Texas Coliseum in Lamar, but 40% of the crowd got in free. Vannatta said 1,400 names were on a pass list for performing free services. That meant the paid crowd of about 2,100--at $14 each--brought in revenues totaling about $30,000. Promoters deducted such expenses as coliseum rental, advertising and travel expenses and performance fees paid to Nelson’s band members. (In a gesture of good will, the band members deducted $2,000 from their original bill of $15,000.)