Jody Chiang makes the retirement announcement Jan. 2.

Taipei, Jan. 16 (CNA) Nine extra Jody Chiang (江蕙) concerts have been added to her concert dates in response to overwhelming demand for tickets to the diva's farewell concerts, organizers announced Friday.

The nine concerts are scheduled for Aug. 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23 at the Taipei Arena and Sept. 4, 11, 12 and 13 at the Kaohsiung Arena, according to Kuang Hong Arts Management, the promoter of the concerts.

The 90,000 tickets to the concerts can be purchased from noon on Jan. 25 on the website www.jody-ticket.com.tw.

People who wish to purchase tickets should sign in on to the website between 9 a.m. Jan. 19 and 11 p.m. Jan. 24. Each sign-up can be allocated a maximum of four tickets.


[A promotional video of the tour]

The announcement came after many fans appealed to the singer and the organizer for extra concerts after failing to secure tickets to the 16 original farewell concerts due to huge demand. The 16 original concerts were scheduled to take place between July 25 and Sept. 6 in Taipei and Kaohsiung.

Kuang Hong Arts Management, which operates the online ticketing website Kham Ticket, has been hounded for failing to prepare for the huge demand. Its ticketing site and ticketing machines at convenience stores were overwhelmed during the three days that the original tickets went on sale.

Chiang did not show up at the press conference to announce the extra concerts, but had her manager Eric Chen (陳子鴻) read a letter to the public on her behalf.

In the letter, she apologized for the disturbance caused by the ticket sales.

"I again apologize to everyone on behalf of the ticketing agent," Chiang said.

"If you like to listen to me, I am happy to sing," she said, thanking her fans for their support.

Acer founder Stan Shih (施振榮), whose company is managing the ticket sales, said he is confident that his company has the ability to handle ticket sales.

(By Christie Chen)
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Related stories:
●Profile: Queen of Taiwanese songs to say goodbye after four decades
●Jan. 6: Ticketing mess: angry fans, worried Jody Chiang, contrite promoter
●Jan. 2: Singer Jody Chiang to retire

Click here for highlights of Jody Chiang's career.