Concert Ticket Prices Skyrocket Amid Ongoing Controversies

LOS ANGELES, CA — Ticket prices for major concerts continue to soar, raising concerns among fans and prompting reactions from prominent figures, including former President Donald Trump. During a recent event, Trump expressed his desire to protect concertgoers from what he called ‘crazy prices’. He was joined by musician Kid Rock, who remarked that it is time to ‘Make America Fun Again’.

The ticketing industry is dominated by Live Nation Entertainment, which merged with Ticketmaster in 2010. In 2024, the company reported revenues of $23.2 billion, selling 637 million tickets globally. Critics argue that Ticketmaster has become synonymous with high prices and excessive fees, capturing approximately 70% of the concert ticket market.

Tim Chambers, a former Ticketmaster consultant, claims it provokes ire, noting, ‘It’s the 800-pound gorilla that everyone loves to hate.’ Allegations against Ticketmaster span predatory pricing to monopolistic practices, with the company facing numerous investigations and lawsuits throughout its history.

Recent data shows that top-tier concert tickets are harder to acquire than ever. For instance, a ticket to see Oasis at Wembley Stadium in 2009 cost £44. That same ticket now averages £151, reflecting the industry’s significant price inflation over the years.

The dynamic pricing strategy employed by Ticketmaster has also drawn ire, as it can lead to ticket prices fluctuating based on demand, sometimes doubling or tripling without warning. This tactic has prompted the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority to investigate potential consumer law breaches.

In the U.S., Ticketmaster faced backlash after a chaotic presale for Taylor Swift‘s recent tour overwhelmed its servers. Swift herself expressed disappointment over the situation, prompting further scrutiny into the ticketing giant. Following these events, a coalition of 39 states joined the U.S. Justice Department in an investigation into Ticketmaster’s practices.

Despite ongoing controversies, some industry experts maintain that Ticketmaster’s profit margins are relatively low, suggesting that high ticket prices are symptomatic of deeper issues in the live music industry, such as inflation and increased demand for top artists.

In an effort to reduce scalping and improve fan experiences, industry stakeholders are exploring various strategies, including more transparency in ticket pricing and even potential legislative actions against misleading fees. However, amid calls for change, many fans feel they have limited options for securing fair-priced tickets.

As ticket prices climb higher, artists like Robert Smith of the Cure are striving for fan-friendly approaches, rejecting dynamic pricing altogether. Nonetheless, they still face challenges from industry practices designed to maximize profits at fans’ expense, prompting ongoing discussions about the future of ticket sales.