Passage Summary: A promoter argues that their concerts are popular because they sell a lot of t-shirts, even though critics say people don't actually like the shows.

Conclusion: The critics are wrong to claim that the concert series does not have broad public appeal.

Reasoning: The amount of money made from selling merchandise like t-shirts at these concerts is as high as or higher than the sales at other comparable concert series.

Analysis: The promoter is essentially saying, 'The music can't be bad because the t-shirts are cool.' This assumes that merchandise sales are a perfect mirror for the artistic or popular appeal of the concert itself. It’s a classic bait-and-switch where the promoter defends the 'popularity' of the event by pointing at the cash register for souvenirs rather than the actual audience sentiment. Look for an answer that identifies this failure to address the critics' specific point about appeal.