It should be no surprise to any fans of some of today’s biggest artists that ticket prices for their concerts have been increasing significantly over the past few years. Here are some of the many factors that are causing ticket prices to rise so dramatically:

Ticket sellers and third party resellers:

Websites like Ticketmaster have been at the root of many concert tickets rising to high prices. In 2023, Ticketmaster was involved in a massive conundrum with the selling of tickets for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. The site, which already has a reputation for charging hidden and unnecessary fees, did not properly manage the large mass of customers, who were expected well in advance, to access to the website when the tickets went on sale, which led to a crash of the website for many customers. Ticketmaster also failed to prevent the mass purchasing of tickets by scalpers and third party sellers, who then resold them for exuberant prices, some going for thousands of dollars. This is just one example of an online ticket seller mismanaging sales and allowing for prices to skyrocket.

Venues:

Concert venues have also contributed to a rise in concert ticket prices. Smaller venues that host more well-known artists usually sell out and require more staff and supplies to meet fans’ wants and needs. This causes venue fees to rise and tickets prices too.

Artist Popularity/Demand:

With social media apps like TikTok and Instagram, along with the increasing popularity of streaming services, many music artists are becoming well known to more people than ever. A prime example of one of these artists is Jacob Lawson, better known as JVKE. During the COVID-19 lockdown, JVKE released videos on TikTok promoting some of his music. His song “Golden Hour” quickly became a massive success on the platform and has garnered over a billion streams on Spotify. Another example is Benson Boone. He competed on the singing competition show American Idol back in 2021, but ultimately left the competition after making it to the show’s Top 24. He then continued his making music and promoting it on social media, releasing multiple singles and on April 5th, he dropped his first album, Fireworks and Rollerblades, which contains multiple songs that went onto become massive hits. This ability for artists to quickly grow in fame and popularity leads many of their ticket prices for their concerts to rise over a hundred dollars or more, most of the time before they are bought and resold by third party sellers.

Finding Affordable Tickets:

Here are some tips to use when looking for shows that otherwise may seem to costly to attend:

• Buy tickets the day of the event. People will likely be reselling their tickets at lower prices to try to make back their money rather than turn a profit. Artists may also lower the price of any tickets still available.
• Check for nearby concert locations. There may be a nearby show that may have cheaper tickets or more tickets available.
• Look for giveaways. Concert venues, local radio stations, affiliated companies, and artists themselves might give away tickets as a way of promoting and marketing their events.
• Check various ticket sites. Some sites may have hidden fees and charges that will contribute to prices being higher.
• Tailgate! Some people have found tailgating at an event they might not be able to get tickets for to be just as fun. You may be able to hear the concert from a distance and get to hang out with other fans. Just make sure that you check the parking situation. Some venues or events might check your ticket or require you to pay for parking before letting you into the lot.
• Save up for next time. It’s never a bad idea to start saving for the next time that artist comes back into town or for the opportunity to travel somewhere to see them.