2024 has been an excellent year for music, with new albums and artists entering the public eye. We can all agree that there are many good artists out there, but with rising ticket prices, is it worth spending hundreds of dollars for a decent view?
Throughout early October, many acclaimed tours visited Philadelphia, including Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, Gracie Abrams, and Conan Gray. Each ticket costs around $200 to $400 unless you can find a good deal through resale. The presence of these top artists in town created a competitive atmosphere for fans to secure tickets, often prioritizing availability over price. As long as people are willing to spend hundreds per ticket, prices will only continue to rise.
This has been a recurring problem since the 1990s and the early 2000s, but it became particularly noticeable during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Tickets for this tour were sold for $500 to $1,000 for “nosebleed” seats. The struggle on Ticketmaster was largely based on luck and the willingness to pay. Getting into the queue and purchasing tickets was another challenge, as it often felt like an auction for those willing to pay the highest prices.
On May 23, 2024, the Office of Public Affairs published an article about a lawsuit filed against Ticketmaster for monopolizing the industry: “We allege that Live Nation relies on unlawful, anti-competitive conduct to exercise its monopolistic control over the live events industry in the United States at the cost of fans, artists, smaller promoters, and venue operators…The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services.”
When this issue was originally raised back in November 2022, fans were outraged. Taylor Swift is one of the most popular singers in the country, so it makes sense that her tickets would be pricier than others. However, Ticketmaster’s additional fees create doubt among fans and add unnecessary stress while buying tickets.
For some people, concert tickets are worth the money. People see them as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But with so many artists touring at the same time, spending thousands of dollars for only a handful of concerts seems excessive. Paying to see an artist perform isn’t outrageous, but is spending around $200 for one ticket or fighting thousands of people on Ticketmaster (with the possibility of not even securing the ticket) worth all that trouble?
Freshman Charlotte Hill, who has seen Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, and Conan Gray in the last month, believes concerts are worth it. “Seeing an artist live can change your life. Just being in that big arena or studio surrounded by other people who love that artist gives you a sense of community and togetherness.” This perspective comes from someone who doesn’t have to pay for her tickets. On the other hand, Meghan Roberts, a 9th-grade history teacher, who does pay for her own tickets, says, “Typically yes, the tickets are worth it, but it depends on the artist and how long the concert is. I only want to go to a concert if I know all their songs and can sing along. I don’t want to go just to go.”
Many believe that the high prices of concert tickets don’t diminish the memory of seeing their favorite artists live with other fans. Watching a performance can be life-changing, especially if you resonate with the music. Music is how many artists express their feelings, and thousands of people filling a stadium to listen to them demonstrates that they are heard. An important part of our lives is feeling understood and experiencing a sense of belonging.
Everyone will continue to complain about concert pricing, regardless of their age. Yet, they will still go to see their favorite artists live because of the joy it brings. No matter how fleeting, the moment will always outshine the cost.
