“Half of Britons have been priced out of attending live music events in recent years”

[yougov.co.uk]

Not necessarily OT, actually…

Unsurprising, really. To regularly attend concerts at the big venues is something I, personally, cannot afford. What is the average ticket-cost at venue such as the O2 Arena in London? Must be near, or around, £100, surely? That’s a once-per-year event for me!

Tickets are only overpriced if no one buys them, but people still pay, no matter what the price. However, I think the price expectation is unrealistic - 40 pounds to see a major act?!?!?!?! That's not even $50 US. I haven't paid $50 for a ticket in over a decade!!!!!! Even nose bleeds now are nearly $100. Man, it's annoying when folks live in the past. The cost of everything goes up over time. In normal non-inflationary times, I'd say 5% a year is about average, so one cannot expect to pay now the same amount that they paid 10, 20, 30 years ago.

I remember when I bought tickets to the original reunion tour of The Eagles, back in the late 90's. The Stones had just been the most expensive ticket I'd ever bought up to that point at $75/ticket if I recall for the B2B tour. The Eagles were the first time I paid over $100/ticket, and I was floored. I could have passed, but I wanted to see them, so I paid. And I'm glad I did. Now, they're no longer the classic line-up.

Don't get me wrong I think this whole surge pricing is BS on the largest possible scale, but expecting to pay $50 for a concert ticket is not realistic.

don't tell me about overpriced tickets – I live in Germany where tickets are even more overpriced than nearly anywhere else. If one lives in Germany it makes sense to travel abroad to see you favorite artist and save some 30% (or even more) on the tickets. For example: Last year I saw Clapton in Amsterdam for some 100 Euros (GA) while reserved seating in the front blocks was some 200 Euros in Germany)

Yeah, at the ripe old age of 67 (68 in March), retired, etc., I think I'm almost done with major concert tours.

Eleven Rolling Stones shows from 1975 - 2021 were all fantastic, but I have to ask myself if paying $300 for a chance to hear "Miss You" again is realistic any more.

I get to thinking about folks I have not seen, the proverbial "Bucket List" concerts. It would be nice to see Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, and...maybe a couple of others here and there, but I just can't justify the money involved.

Overpricing is just a matter of taste. Is it worth the money for you?
Do you wanna pay 500€ to see the Stones in 2023 (yes).

Of course I would love to pay 1.000€ to see a 1972 show!
Some would call that overpriced too. I wouldn't.

I suppose the other big difference now is that there are different prices for tickets depending on how good your seats are. I remember in the 80s and 90s the prices were the same regardless of whether you were front row or nosebleeds. And so that's why people camped out the night before so that they could get the best tickets.

The first time I remember thinking tickets were getting expensive was the Voodoo Lounge tour of Australia in 1995. Tickets were $93.50 (Aussie dollars). Same price anywhere in the stadium. I remember there was an article in the paper about Mick being very clear that tickets should not cost more than 100 dollars. How times have changed.....

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Mongoose
Yeah, at the ripe old age of 67 (68 in March), retired, etc., I think I'm almost done with major concert tours.

Eleven Rolling Stones shows from 1975 - 2021 were all fantastic, but I have to ask myself if paying $300 for a chance to hear "Miss You" again is realistic any more.

I get to thinking about folks I have not seen, the proverbial "Bucket List" concerts. It would be nice to see Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, and...maybe a couple of others here and there, but I just can't justify the money involved.

I had one of those lists myself. After Chris Cornell's passing (he had been on that list, either solo or Soundgarden, I didn't care), I set out to see all the rest of the folks I'd even kinda, sorta wanted to see. I went to see John Mellencamp at Tanglewood, MA, I bought tix to see ZZ Top in Boston, and I grabbed a ticket to see Metallica in Phoenix. ZZ cancelled their show due to one of the members being ill and never rescheduled. I think I still have the tickets somewhere. Now, I don't have a desire to see the 2 of them. Try as I may, I couldn't coordinate a show that worked into my month-long road trip's schedule to see Petty. I debated buying a ticket for one of his final CA shows once I got back from my trip, but after having been gone for a month, I didn't feel like leaving again, and a friend had told me that there would be more shows the following year. I kick myself for not going everytime I put on any Petty music.

There's really no one left at this point that I haven't seen that I want to. There are some I wouldn't mind seeing - Kiss, RHCP (whom I am seeing in April with my sons), P!nk, Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift, Whitesnake, Poison, Motley Crue (missed that chance now that Mars is retired), Shania Twain, Lady Gaga. I've always wanted to see Cher and Madonna, but I've never wanted to pony up the ridiculous amounts that they charge. I will only do that for one band!!! >< For all the others listed, I really don't care one way or another if I see them. P!nk is touring this year, and I'm sure she puts on a great show, but my boys have no desire to see her, and I just don't feel like dealing with all the traffic to go to Boston or Philly to see her solo. If it was Buffalo or somewhere more friendly to getting in and out (and a friendlier journey there) I might have considered it. Kiss I'd only see if I got the LiveNation $25 tix. That's about all it's worth to me, but just to say I saw them.

Maybe Sinead. She might be one that would still be on my list, but she tours sooooo infrequently now that I almost forgot about her. And even though I'm not really a fan, if ever there was enough money to convince them to reunite and tour, I'd pay whatever the cost to see Zep just to say I did. I respect the hell out of them for stopping the way they did when Bonzo died. There isn't another band out there that did that, or that money couldn't coerce back together. THAT to me is as much a part of their legacy as the music.

Other than that though, I mean my list of concerts attended is long - I'm sure many on here dwarf my list, but for me, I'm very content. I've missed out on Nirvana, Chris Cornell/Soundgarden, Petty, ZZ Top, Crue, Alice In Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Michael Jackson.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023-01-04 18:43 by VoodooLounge13.

too expensive compared to what ? ! it depends on how much you earn per month and your standard of living ...of course if you earn 1500 euros/dollars a month with family and children with bills and cars to maintain, I don't even go to see the puppet show at the village fair .... otherwise if you earn a lot of money everything changes ....

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VoodooLounge13

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Mongoose
Yeah, at the ripe old age of 67 (68 in March), retired, etc., I think I'm almost done with major concert tours.

Eleven Rolling Stones shows from 1975 - 2021 were all fantastic, but I have to ask myself if paying $300 for a chance to hear "Miss You" again is realistic any more.

I get to thinking about folks I have not seen, the proverbial "Bucket List" concerts. It would be nice to see Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, and...maybe a couple of others here and there, but I just can't justify the money involved.

Other than that though, I mean my list of concerts attended is long - I'm sure many on here dwarf my list, but for me, I'm very content. I've missed out on Nirvana, Chris Cornell/Soundgarden, Petty, ZZ Top, Crue, Alice In Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Michael Jackson.

I saw Cornell with Audioslave at Lollapalooza 2003 in Atlanta. The only other time I saw him was 10 days before he died (Soundgarden at Memphis in May). Also saw STP with Weiland about 25 and 20 years ago. Last time I saw Weiland was under a month before he died (with The Wildabouts in a tiny Nashville venue). Saw ZZ Top in Virginia (2018). Saw Petty in the 90s at Starwood (Nashville). Missed out on Page with The Black Crowes (Atlanta- cancellation), Porno For Pyros (cancellation), AIC with Layne (Nashville in the mid 90s- opening for Metallica, playing after Suicidal Tendencies- likely Layne's drug issues, but hey, we got Candlebox instead. Ouch!). Post-Layne AIC is great live. Don't blow them off.

This is to say each person determines what the experience is worth. There is a limit for me but checking off the legends from my bucket list (Stones, McCartney, The Who, Roger Waters, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Santana, Robert Plant, Blondie, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith, REM, Willie Nelson, Bob Weir, U2, Jane's Addiction, Allman Bros., The Police, Ozzy, Van Halen, Metallica...) is nearly priceless. A movie is a final product which everyone has the opportunity to enjoy whenever. A live concert is a one-of-a-kind event that is gone like that (unless it is recorded, and even then, it's not like being there).



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2023-01-04 20:12 by NashvilleBlues.

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RisingStone
“Half of Britons have been priced out of attending live music events in recent years”

[yougov.co.uk]

Not necessarily OT, actually…

This is only news / concern if the venues are half empty and the other half who are priced out are stuck crying outside.

I’d say, everything has a fair price regardless of whether you are rich or poor, you can afford it or not.

I don’t think a rock concert should be priced at a few hundred bucks — no matter how big the artists are. I don’t think it’s justified.

My two cents.

OK, and not to 'step up' for the artists, but if we're basically getting the music for free, how are they supposed to make money if not from the shows?

And in a free economy no one is forced to buy tickets to a concert. Those with means do, and those that don't, get lucky dips!

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treaclefingers
OK, and not to 'step up' for the artists, but if we're basically getting the music for free, how are they supposed to make money if not from the shows?

And in a free economy no one is forced to buy tickets to a concert. Those with means do, and those that don't, get lucky dips!

Spot on.

Rod

Of course, if I had the finances, o might attend more concerts. Then again, I don’t know. I’m not sure. My concert-going day’s were a decade+ ago. Whilst I still love music as much as ever, I’m not sure if that going to lots of gigs is my thing anymore. I’ll gladly pay to see the Stones once more. Other than that, I’m not sure I’d pay to see anyone.

I think the argument that if the venues are full, then there is no problem at all, is too simplistic.

It's a sign of the increasing inequality in societies. The middle classes are being pushed out of being able to afford a lifestyle they had some years ago. And concerts are of course dispensable. People struggle for private health, private education with the deterioration of public services, housing mortgages and rents, where the money is all going to right now for many.

The music industry does its job and finds the way to get the money where it is, marketing its products to the right audiences, pricing accordingly to keep venues full. They are not a charity organization, and they shouldn't. But that's different to say this is all very normal and healthy. It's not.

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treaclefingers
OK, and not to 'step up' for the artists, but if we're basically getting the music for free, how are they supposed to make money if not from the shows?

And in a free economy no one is forced to buy tickets to a concert. Those with means do, and those that don't, get lucky dips!

People claim, the music is now available for free by way of streaming therefore artists rely on the live circuit for the major source of their income hence the price hike of the tickets. That may be true. But is the argument valid 100 percent? Does it explain everything?

I saw Robert Plant in November. The venue was all seating, the capacity less than one thousand. The ticket price was uniformly £42.00 including the fees. And I saw The Cure in December at the 13,000-capacity arena. I bought a cheapest ticket in £40.95, also including the fees, the bottom of the price categories. My seat was nosebleed, up on the second tier, but I was in. Both artists are class acts and big names, not newcomers by any means.

FYR here is a quote from the recently published Cure article, which I already put on the Springsteen thread:

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The Perfect Boy
Revealing the depth of Robert Smith’s involvement in the band’s career, Mitha tells IQ, “Robert is the only artist I know in the world who discusses ticket prices, sightlines, scalings with every promoter – it was the same with the 2016 tour. So, when you send over scaling plans with those colour seating maps and everything, he literally goes into every detail and changes the colours. It must be crazy time-consuming for him, but he’s very involved.”

Spanish promoter Mercader comments, “They care deeply about the ticket prices – the only other act I can think of who care to the same extent is AC/DC. Robert wants sensible prices to make it as affordable as possible for all fans.”

It’s something that Hopewell knows well. “Promoters will put forward a ticket price they think is achievable and a lot of the time Robert will come back and say thank you very much, but I think the prices should be lower,” he says. “He’s also very keen to see ticket scales that are neatly structured rather than appearing to be haphazard from the fans’ point of view.”

Production manager Broad notes the positives, “Robert is like management. He wants to know the sales numbers, how everything looks, where everything is – he is very hands on. It actually has its advantages: if anyone asks ‘Why do you do X?’ we can answer, ‘Because Robert wants to!’ And that’s the end of the conversation.”

[www.iq-mag.net]

To me, “in a free economy no one is forced to buy tickets to a concert” sounds obscene even if it’s true per se. As Torres implies in his post, that school of thought ultimately will pave the way to the severe inequality of the society. Only the rich can afford a major rock concert — we are approaching that stage, or already there. Are you okay with that?

And I know nobody but The Rolling Stones who offers lucky dips if there are any.

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RisingStone

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treaclefingers
OK, and not to 'step up' for the artists, but if we're basically getting the music for free, how are they supposed to make money if not from the shows?

And in a free economy no one is forced to buy tickets to a concert. Those with means do, and those that don't, get lucky dips!

People claim, the music is now available for free by way of streaming therefore artists rely on the live circuit for the major source of their income hence the price hike of the tickets. That may be true. But is the argument valid 100 percent? Does it explain everything?

I saw Robert Plant in November. The venue was all seating, the capacity less than one thousand. The ticket price was uniformly £42.00 including the fees. And I saw The Cure in December at the 13,000-capacity arena. I bought a cheapest ticket in £40.95, also including the fees, the bottom of the price categories. My seat was nosebleed, up on the second tier, but I was in. Both artists are class acts and big names, not newcomers by any means.

FYR here is a quote from the recently published Cure article, which I already put on the Springsteen thread:

Quote
The Perfect Boy
Revealing the depth of Robert Smith’s involvement in the band’s career, Mitha tells IQ, “Robert is the only artist I know in the world who discusses ticket prices, sightlines, scalings with every promoter – it was the same with the 2016 tour. So, when you send over scaling plans with those colour seating maps and everything, he literally goes into every detail and changes the colours. It must be crazy time-consuming for him, but he’s very involved.”

Spanish promoter Mercader comments, “They care deeply about the ticket prices – the only other act I can think of who care to the same extent is AC/DC. Robert wants sensible prices to make it as affordable as possible for all fans.”

It’s something that Hopewell knows well. “Promoters will put forward a ticket price they think is achievable and a lot of the time Robert will come back and say thank you very much, but I think the prices should be lower,” he says. “He’s also very keen to see ticket scales that are neatly structured rather than appearing to be haphazard from the fans’ point of view.”

Production manager Broad notes the positives, “Robert is like management. He wants to know the sales numbers, how everything looks, where everything is – he is very hands on. It actually has its advantages: if anyone asks ‘Why do you do X?’ we can answer, ‘Because Robert wants to!’ And that’s the end of the conversation.”

[www.iq-mag.net]

To me, “in a free economy no one is forced to buy tickets to a concert” sounds obscene even if it’s true per se. As Torres implies in his post, that school of thought ultimately will pave the way to the severe inequality of the society. Only the rich can afford a major rock concert — we are approaching that stage, or already there. Are you okay with that?

And I know nobody but The Rolling Stones who offers lucky dips if there are any.

A major concert is basically a form of hero worship as well as a social media status symbol. Music itself can generally be had a price that's affordable to anyone.

Also in the U.S. the current price for a tour bus for a month is about $60,000 and a major tour might need several. Touring is very expensive and the days where a major artist is the last one to expect to be paid is long over.

None of the above facts and opinions alter the fact that I and many others simply can't afford it any more.

But I still have the records...and the memories.

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NashvilleBlues

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VoodooLounge13

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Mongoose
Yeah, at the ripe old age of 67 (68 in March), retired, etc., I think I'm almost done with major concert tours.

Eleven Rolling Stones shows from 1975 - 2021 were all fantastic, but I have to ask myself if paying $300 for a chance to hear "Miss You" again is realistic any more.

I get to thinking about folks I have not seen, the proverbial "Bucket List" concerts. It would be nice to see Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, and...maybe a couple of others here and there, but I just can't justify the money involved.

Other than that though, I mean my list of concerts attended is long - I'm sure many on here dwarf my list, but for me, I'm very content. I've missed out on Nirvana, Chris Cornell/Soundgarden, Petty, ZZ Top, Crue, Alice In Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Michael Jackson.

I saw Cornell with Audioslave at Lollapalooza 2003 in Atlanta. The only other time I saw him was 10 days before he died (Soundgarden at Memphis in May). Also saw STP with Weiland about 25 and 20 years ago. Last time I saw Weiland was under a month before he died (with The Wildabouts in a tiny Nashville venue). Saw ZZ Top in Virginia (2018). Saw Petty in the 90s at Starwood (Nashville). Missed out on Page with The Black Crowes (Atlanta- cancellation), Porno For Pyros (cancellation), AIC with Layne (Nashville in the mid 90s- opening for Metallica, playing after Suicidal Tendencies- likely Layne's drug issues, but hey, we got Candlebox instead. Ouch!). Post-Layne AIC is great live. Don't blow them off.

This is to say each person determines what the experience is worth. There is a limit for me but checking off the legends from my bucket list (Stones, McCartney, The Who, Roger Waters, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Santana, Robert Plant, Blondie, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith, REM, Willie Nelson, Bob Weir, U2, Jane's Addiction, Allman Bros., The Police, Ozzy, Van Halen, Metallica...) is nearly priceless. A movie is a final product which everyone has the opportunity to enjoy whenever. A live concert is a one-of-a-kind event that is gone like that (unless it is recorded, and even then, it's not like being there).

Hey Nashville! You have some great concerts in your list! Good for you!! I'm a bit jealous in regards to the ones I missed. A friend of mine goes to see the modern AIC with some regularity and always tells me that they're pretty decent. I had tix to see them at Lollapalooza back in the day in Westerly, RI, but couldn't get a ride there. Of the dream artists you list out, I've also seen some of those (Stones, Macca, Who, Dylan, Aerosmith, REM, U2, The Police, Metallica). I forgot about Ozzy. I would like to see him if he ever tours again. He's in pretty rough shape these days after his fall at home, but fingers crossed. He was supposed to tour with Megadeath, which would have been interesting, but COVID hit. Elton I've never liked enough to see on his own. If he did another tour with Billy Joel, I'd go in a heartbeat. Billy I've seen 3x, and I was tempted to go see him again with Stevie Nicks, but for the prices being charged, I'm going to pass.

It is certainly all relative to what one is willing to pay. For the upcoming Metallica concert in Foxborough next year, I paid $200/ticket. That's for TWO shows, so really it's $100/show, and my boys and I will be about 2/3 down the stadium, but I thought that was fair. My youngest will be graduating high school that year, and my middle graduates community college, so that is my present to each of them. If I were going alone, I could have afforded more, but for 3 tix, I cannot. I think the most I've ever paid is $350 to see the Stones. I believe that was opening night of ABB at Fenway. I had $500 floor seats to the first MSG gig in '06, but those were given to me by one of my agents and therefore don't count. But for me, those are the most expensive tickets I've ever had in my hands.

The Stones are the only band that I have seen this many times. Right now, both Billy Joel and Beck are tied for 2nd at 3x apiece. Metallica will join them next year. So there is a huge gap between first (13x) and second, but I have watched the prices of the tickets for the Stones go up with each tour since I first saw them in '97.

I actually missed the 50th tour, due to my 1st divorce and the prices being just far too rich for me at that time. It's the only tour I've missed since '97, and it's the one that I most wanted to go to, as I was kind of bored of seeming them at that point, with my last show having been Churchill Downs, and flying all that way, renting a car, etc. to "only" get one new song not heard live before. To me, it wasn't enough anymore. I said I'd only go see them again if they brought back one of the two missing pieces, and they brought back both, and I missed it. Oh well.

Even now, I said Nashville would be my final time seeing them, because it's not the same without Charlie, and it's not. The Stones now are the same as The Who (often affectionately called The Two) - just 2 founding members remain. For me, I wanted to go out on top, with a bang if you will. I wanted 3 songs I'd never heard live before, which I knew would be a stretch, as I was assured of LIAGT but not much else. I was hoping for the song vote, not guaranteed that they'd play Trouble. But then to get Connection, too!? Man, I was satisfied!!!! Leaving the live band on MY terms, as I'd wanted. And I've even now seen them 13x, which is my lucky number. Buuuuuuuut my sons were so incredibly transformed by that show - my older son especially (my youngest has since listened to all of The Beatles and they are now his favorite band) - that they want to go again, because they didn't know a bunch of the songs, and they want to experience it all again, and I remember being that exact same person!!!! So, I now await the next tour announcement with all of you!!!! LOL

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RisingStone

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treaclefingers
OK, and not to 'step up' for the artists, but if we're basically getting the music for free, how are they supposed to make money if not from the shows?

And in a free economy no one is forced to buy tickets to a concert. Those with means do, and those that don't, get lucky dips!

People claim, the music is now available for free by way of streaming therefore artists rely on the live circuit for the major source of their income hence the price hike of the tickets. That may be true. But is the argument valid 100 percent? Does it explain everything?

I saw Robert Plant in November. The venue was all seating, the capacity less than one thousand. The ticket price was uniformly £42.00 including the fees. And I saw The Cure in December at the 13,000-capacity arena. I bought a cheapest ticket in £40.95, also including the fees, the bottom of the price categories. My seat was nosebleed, up on the second tier, but I was in. Both artists are class acts and big names, not newcomers by any means.

FYR here is a quote from the recently published Cure article, which I already put on the Springsteen thread:

Quote
The Perfect Boy
Revealing the depth of Robert Smith’s involvement in the band’s career, Mitha tells IQ, “Robert is the only artist I know in the world who discusses ticket prices, sightlines, scalings with every promoter – it was the same with the 2016 tour. So, when you send over scaling plans with those colour seating maps and everything, he literally goes into every detail and changes the colours. It must be crazy time-consuming for him, but he’s very involved.”

Spanish promoter Mercader comments, “They care deeply about the ticket prices – the only other act I can think of who care to the same extent is AC/DC. Robert wants sensible prices to make it as affordable as possible for all fans.”

It’s something that Hopewell knows well. “Promoters will put forward a ticket price they think is achievable and a lot of the time Robert will come back and say thank you very much, but I think the prices should be lower,” he says. “He’s also very keen to see ticket scales that are neatly structured rather than appearing to be haphazard from the fans’ point of view.”

Production manager Broad notes the positives, “Robert is like management. He wants to know the sales numbers, how everything looks, where everything is – he is very hands on. It actually has its advantages: if anyone asks ‘Why do you do X?’ we can answer, ‘Because Robert wants to!’ And that’s the end of the conversation.”

[www.iq-mag.net]

To me, “in a free economy no one is forced to buy tickets to a concert” sounds obscene even if it’s true per se. As Torres implies in his post, that school of thought ultimately will pave the way to the severe inequality of the society. Only the rich can afford a major rock concert — we are approaching that stage, or already there. Are you okay with that?

And I know nobody but The Rolling Stones who offers lucky dips if there are any.

There was a $25 per ticket concert series this year in North America in which a number of bigger name acts, Black Crowes, Styx, and a few others that I can't remember played for that price, which I believe is about 16 GBP.

From my perspective the only show I'll spend big money on are the Stones, but now even for them I'm not so sure since Lucky Dips have served me well in the last decade.

I've spent $150/ticket to see some top tier comedy; Seinfeld, Maniscalco, a bit less for Jimmy Carr so these higher prices aren't limited to music.

With all of that said, these are completely discretionary purchases, a night out, a birthday present, something special.

From a previous thread I see some people go out every couple of nights to a concert. Great for them and I'm sure expensive but it's within their means and part of their lifestyle. I wouldn't even want to go out every second night, not even when I was in my 20s.

But to bemoan the price of tickets...seriously? Just don't go. This isn't like health care, or food, or housing, it's completely discretionary.

And if the market has swung too far in one direction eventually it will come back to earth. If you're going to complain, why not complain about new vinyl records being sold at $40 or $50. Seriously?

El Mocambo at $250 for the neon version. Seriously?

But I just won't buy it then...I don't start a thread crying about the end of Western Civilization. This is the definition of a First World problem...people have real issues in the world and an overpriced concert ticket should be the least of our concerns.

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treaclefingers
There was a $25 per ticket concert series this year in North America in which a number of bigger name acts, Black Crowes, Styx, and a few others that I can't remember played for that price, which I believe is about 16 GBP.

From my perspective the only show I'll spend big money on are the Stones, but now even for them I'm not so sure since Lucky Dips have served me well in the last decade.

I've spent $150/ticket to see some top tier comedy; Seinfeld, Maniscalco, a bit less for Jimmy Carr so these higher prices aren't limited to music.

With all of that said, these are completely discretionary purchases, a night out, a birthday present, something special.

From a previous thread I see some people go out every couple of nights to a concert. Great for them and I'm sure expensive but it's within their means and part of their lifestyle. I wouldn't even want to go out every second night, not even when I was in my 20s.

But to bemoan the price of tickets...seriously? Just don't go. This isn't like health care, or food, or housing, it's completely discretionary.

And if the market has swung too far in one direction eventually it will come back to earth. If you're going to complain, why not complain about new vinyl records being sold at $40 or $50. Seriously?

El Mocambo at $250 for the neon version. Seriously?

But I just won't buy it then...I don't start a thread crying about the end of Western Civilization. This is the definition of a First World problem...people have real issues in the world and an overpriced concert ticket should be the least of our concerns.

Bemoaning the price of tickets is certainly not a real issue in the world. Neither are berating setlists and warhorses, complaining about a long overdue new album, lamenting the decline of Keith’s guitar play etc. They are not real issues in the world, either.

Bringing up “real issues in the world” in order to dismiss my point about non-essential life choices, e.g. discretionary purchases, seems to be downplaying things.

Topics and discussions on the IORR forums are largely not about real issues in the world, after all.

on the long run the promotors will have to lower ticket prices. Except for a few very big acts (like the Stones, Springsteen etc.) it has become rather hard to sell out shows (at least in Germany). Take the upcoming Roger Waters tour as an example. For all shows he's doing in Germany there are still plenty of good seat available (let alone poorer seats) (and the tour is just four month away). And even the Stones lowered the price for pit tickets from 799 Euro (in 2017 and 2018) to some 530 Euros (in 2022). Bob Dylan sold a his three shows in Berlin (in a small venue) but was far away from selling out his shows in Flensburg, Magdeburg and Krefeld (midsize venues). On the other hand Springsteen sold out his shows very quickly.
Lesser well know artists and especially younger bands/newcomers seem to have enormous problems in selling enough tickets to cover the costs of their tours.

I guess a lot of it comes down to how much you're willing to pay. I just got a notice that Cheap Trick is playing a local Native American casino next week. Tickets are $50-$80 + Ticketmaster fees. I like Cheap Trick plenty but it's more than I'm able to pay. I've seen them a lot & I'm not wild how they pushed Bun E. Carlos out of the band in favor of Rick Nielsen's son. I also heard that Robin Zander's son is involved now & actually played some shows in place of Rick Nielsen on guitar. If I went to a show & that was the case I'd be really unhappy.

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slewan
I live in Germany where tickets are even more overpriced than nearly anywhere else.

Just guessing but it's possible that - due to Germany having the highest standard of living of the continent - that promoters/artists charge you more to make up for lesser earnings on smaller markets (Europe's southern countries...).

Rising country star Zach Bryan is not a fan of Ticketmaster. He dropped a surprise live album last week - “All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster (Live from Red Rocks)”.

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Zach Bryan Wants to Burn Ticketmaster to the Ground

Despite a vow of "fair prices for all," the country star's options to circumvent Ticketmaster on an anticipated tour are limited

By Jon Freeman
January 4, 2023

[www.rollingstone.com]

Thank god I saw almost all the big acts when they were great. Springsteen in '78, Stones in '78, and '89. Neil Young in '73. Clapton in '79. Zeppelin in '70 and '77. And lots of others. I don't need to spend more to see a diminished product. I saw the Stones do Out of Time on YouTube. That was the only real novel song they did this tour. If I shut my eyes and was asked if Tumblin' Dice live was anytime after 1990, I wouldn't have a clue. (Okay, Keith was better before falling out of a tree, and I might hear his better solos).

I don't know if they're subsidized, or what, but I go to one of the greatest and storied venues every summer, the Hollywood Bowl. The sound is great throughout. (It used to be you only had good sound about halfway up.) I pay around $50, about 42 pounds, to sit pretty much in the center.

I guess a lot of this is bucket list. Never seen Bruce, Stones, etc. And I get that. And if there were a group out there I'd never seen I'd want the hits. Us poor people can just wait for a DVD, whether from a new concert, or a classic one. Some of us get them for free from our local public library. That's how I saw Stones at Fonda, and Ole Ole Ole, and there's another South American one. I'm hoping the Taylor Hawkins Tribute ends up on DVD soon. That looks smokin'. (That one I'll buy for repeated viewing).

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slewan
I live in Germany where tickets are even more overpriced than nearly anywhere else.

Just guessing but it's possible that - due to Germany having the highest standard of living of the continent - that promoters/artists charge you more to make up for lesser earnings on smaller markets (Europe's southern countries...).

buying power surely plays a role. But on the other hand The Netherlands, Belgium, Norway etc. are hardly poor countries.
In Germany there's a special tax rule for international artists. I can't remember the details but when it was introduced some 20 years ago tickets prices immediately rose.

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slewan
on the long run the promotors will have to lower ticket prices. Except for a few very big acts (like the Stones, Springsteen etc.) it has become rather hard to sell out shows (at least in Germany). Take the upcoming Roger Waters tour as an example. For all shows he's doing in Germany there are still plenty of good seat available (let alone poorer seats) (and the tour is just four month away). And even the Stones lowered the price for pit tickets from 799 Euro (in 2017 and 2018) to some 530 Euros (in 2022). Bob Dylan sold a his three shows in Berlin (in a small venue) but was far away from selling out his shows in Flensburg, Magdeburg and Krefeld (midsize venues). On the other hand Springsteen sold out his shows very quickly.
Lesser well know artists and especially younger bands/newcomers seem to have enormous problems in selling enough tickets to cover the costs of their tours.

It may be anecdotal but it seems to me geezers are going to a lot less concerts while all the same bands, often into their 80's continue to tour year in year out.

Rolling Stones and McCartney are ubiquitous with multi-generational appeal, the Doobie Brothers, not so much.

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treaclefingers
There was a $25 per ticket concert series this year in North America in which a number of bigger name acts, Black Crowes, Styx, and a few others that I can't remember played for that price, which I believe is about 16 GBP.

From my perspective the only show I'll spend big money on are the Stones, but now even for them I'm not so sure since Lucky Dips have served me well in the last decade.

I've spent $150/ticket to see some top tier comedy; Seinfeld, Maniscalco, a bit less for Jimmy Carr so these higher prices aren't limited to music.

With all of that said, these are completely discretionary purchases, a night out, a birthday present, something special.

From a previous thread I see some people go out every couple of nights to a concert. Great for them and I'm sure expensive but it's within their means and part of their lifestyle. I wouldn't even want to go out every second night, not even when I was in my 20s.

But to bemoan the price of tickets...seriously? Just don't go. This isn't like health care, or food, or housing, it's completely discretionary.

And if the market has swung too far in one direction eventually it will come back to earth. If you're going to complain, why not complain about new vinyl records being sold at $40 or $50. Seriously?

El Mocambo at $250 for the neon version. Seriously?

But I just won't buy it then...I don't start a thread crying about the end of Western Civilization. This is the definition of a First World problem...people have real issues in the world and an overpriced concert ticket should be the least of our concerns.

Bemoaning the price of tickets is certainly not a real issue in the world. Neither are berating setlists and warhorses, complaining about a long overdue new album, lamenting the decline of Keith’s guitar play etc. They are not real issues in the world, either.

Bringing up “real issues in the world” in order to dismiss my point about non-essential life choices, e.g. discretionary purchases, seems to be downplaying things.

Topics and discussions on the IORR forums are largely not about real issues in the world, after all.

I agree with what you're saying, however my point is focused on the financial part, which is what you're concern is. This is a free market exercise. Springsteen charges out of the world prices and is slapped in the media.

I think this all eventually settles down, but you'll always have the tier one acts charging more because they can. They couldn't charge those prices if people weren't willing to spend the money. I just don't think it's anything to be concerned about as their are lots of different options for my money if I find going to a particular concert too expensive.