Asbury Park Press Investigates Rising Concert Ticket Prices

Asbury Park, New Jersey — The Asbury Park Press is launching an investigation into the evolving concert ticket landscape as summer approaches. The series, led by entertainment writer Chris Jordan, will explore how ticket prices have skyrocketed and the implications for fans.

For nearly a decade, from the late 1960s to the mid-’70s, live music lovers enjoyed shows at the Schaefer Music Festival in Central Park, where tickets cost around $10 for acts like Boz Scaggs and Maxine Nightingale. Back then, fans could buy tickets at kiosks in Penn Station for as little as $2. Now, ticket prices have soared, with major concerts commanding hefty sums.

As the concert ticket market is projected to grow into a $60 billion industry by 2025, recent events have highlighted the challenges fans face in securing affordable tickets. Notable shows, including those of Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen, have sparked a frenzy of ticket buying, causing prices to surge and fans to feel priced out.

The investigation will address a growing frustration among concertgoers, particularly regarding how quickly tickets disappear upon release. In some cases, tickets at venues like the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel can vanish, only to reappear for resale at inflated prices.

A key focus of the series will be the ongoing federal antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, which merged in 2010. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian highlighted concerns that Live Nation may have engaged in practices that harm consumers and limit fair access to tickets.

The investigation will also delve into the intricate dynamics of ticket buying, including bots and scalpers, the role of digital currency, and whether lawmakers are willing to confront the secondary market and ticket brokers. As the summer concert season kicks off, the Press will assess the impact of rising prices on fans’ experiences and the broader music landscape.

Ultimately, the findings will culminate with a look at the outcome of the Live Nation and Ticketmaster lawsuit, which is set for March 2026 in Lower Manhattan, near the site where early concertgoers once enjoyed budget shows.