Fans of live music have long complained about the increase in ticket prices, having to save for months or break the bank to see their favorite artists. Despite criticisms of high costs from concertgoers, companies such as Live Nation continue to increase prices. Since 2021, ticket costs have risen 20%, prompting fans to wonder if economic factors or corporate greed could be causing the increase. We see the explanations given by corporations as attempts to minimize class differences and justify high prices – all with the goal of making massive profits.
In a recent interview with CNBC, Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino hinted at further price increases in the future. Live Nation is the world’s biggest live entertainment company, with over 800 advertisers that reach over 200 million consumers.
Rapino compared the cost of tickets to those of sporting events, explaining it is a “badge of honor” to spend exorbitant amounts of money for good seats — a statement that, when coming from someone whose net worth is $997 million compared to the 60% of the U.S population that struggles to financially achieve a “minimal quality of life,” comes off as insensitive.
“Music has been underappreciated,” Rapino told CNBC. “In sports, I joke it’s a badge of honor to spend $70,000 for a Knicks courtside (seat). They beat me up if we charge $800 for Beyoncé.
When you read about ticket prices going up, the average concert price is still $72. Try going to a Lakers game for that. (Concerts are) underpriced, and (have) been for a long time.”
This statement highlights how the wealthy can become out of touch with working-class lifestyles. Rapino’s reality does not reflect the experience of those who haven’t inherited wealth or may be living paycheck to paycheck. For many, attending concerts is considered a luxury. If prices continue to increase, the average person’s ability to save enough money for tickets may no longer be possible. There isn’t a lack of appreciation for music or live performances, but a lack of attainability due to the ever-increasing cost of living.
Rapino’s take here is also factually incorrect. His claim that ticket prices are averaging $72 doesn’t take into account service fees and is not consistent with industry data. Pollstar reported the average cost of a concert ticket was $135.92 at the end of 2024. Despite Rapino’s thoughts on ticket prices, the market does not favor the average consumer. Furthermore, the fact he is uttering incorrect facts highlights just how out of touch he is.
Not only is there a major impact on overall ticket prices due to service fees, but Ticketmaster, one of Live Nation’s sellers, is known to use dynamic pricing. This means that in real time, the cost of tickets can increase or decrease depending on demand for sales. While this seems like a very real way for companies to turn more of a profit, it is a strategy that lacks transparency, with arbitrary fluctuations resulting in unclear pricing and what feels like capitalist deception.
As college students, we do not consider it a badge of honor to purchase expensive tickets from sites like Ticketmaster, especially considering allegations against Live Nation’s sales practices. The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against Live Nation on Sept. 18, claiming the company illegally worked alongside ticket brokers in the secondary market, allowing scalpers to purchase above ticket-sale limits. This tactic, along with multiple other claims in the lawsuit, deceives artists and customers, allegedly letting scalpers reap millions of dollars in resale value.
We believe secondary markets take advantage of concertgoers who may not be aware of this practice. Falling victim to resellers results in the purchase of overpriced tickets that do not contribute to the artists that fans want to support. Scalping is blatantly unethical and perpetuates a cycle that harms both fans and artists. While these issues stem from an institutional push for profit gouging, concertgoers should refrain from buying tickets from sites that utilize unethical pricing models. In doing so, fans would be voicing the need for accessible costs and demonstrating consumer power in an attempt to decrease prices and improve business practices.
The issue of rising ticket prices has been ongoing for a number of years, and Live Nation knowingly contributes to this problem by making concerts less accessible and diminishing the implications for working-class music fans. We believe that by boycotting the company and choosing to invest in local musicians, fans have the potential to motivate Live Nation to change its practices.
