What Ticketmaster Doesn't Want You To Know: Concerts Were Cheap For Decades

[The Rover]

Ticketmaster and Live Nation have destroyed the concert experience. But it didn't use to be this way. Today, Oasis and Taylor Swift tickets might go for thousands of dollars, but back in 1955, you could see Elvis Presley in concert for less than the modern-day equivalent of $20.

We investigated further and found ticket stubs from the biggest acts between 1970-1989, and they all cost around $45. Now you’re paying exorbitant service fees and indie venues are getting squeezed, all because two corporations gobbled up the industry.

So how did they do it? Watch our full deep dive into the history of concerts over the last 70 years and how corporate greed turned one of the most populist forms of entertainment into a luxury good.

[Sam Vs. Dave]

I always blamed the Eagles. They reunited and were asking $100+ per ticket which was outrageous... except it worked.

[edwardv]

Not defending ticket bastard and Azoff but in 1955 minimum wage was like a dollar an hour? I was making 2.50 in 1973. Aerosmith on the 15th row was 7.50 plus tax in 1974. But it seems to me when this Napster thing happened that's when everything started going thru the roof into the stratosphere with no end in sight.

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[CaboChris]

One group of people who always get a pass in this debate is the artist themselves. They set their price, too. Ticketmaster wants to make money, and so do the artists. Guess who gets fucked? Fuck all of them.

[edwardv]

I tried to comment on that YouTube channel and it won't let me. But I get banned temporarily on You Tube lots.

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[T.B.]

One group of people who always get a pass in this debate is the artist themselves. They set their price, too. Ticketmaster wants to make money, and so do the artists. Guess who gets fucked? Fuck all of them.

I agree. I get that touring is an expensive proposition whether touring in a van and trailer playing clubs or putting on a big production in arenas and stadiums but the last 20+ years, greed has completely taken over. VIP packages, dynamic pricing, “authorized” reselling of tickets…. Artists are completely in bed with Ticketmaster and Live Nation. You have a guy like Springsteen who kept his prices fairly reasonable up until about a decade ago and now he’s charging thousands for the best seats.

I feel pretty lucky that I grew up, lived and enjoyed through the mid 70’s to near present day concert-going. Especially pre-Y2K, that was the golden age of live music. Since 2019, I’ve been to exactly one concert and really have little desire to see any of the bands I still like live now and price is a big reason.

[CaboChris]

I agree. I get that touring is an expensive proposition whether touring in a van and trailer playing clubs or putting on a big production in arenas and stadiums but the last 20+ years, greed has completely taken over. VIP packages, dynamic pricing, “authorized” reselling of tickets…. Artists are completely in bed with Ticketmaster and Live Nation. You have a guy like Springsteen who kept his prices fairly reasonable up until about a decade ago and now he’s charging thousands for the best seats.

I feel pretty lucky that I grew up, lived and enjoyed through the mid 70’s to near present day concert-going. Especially pre-Y2K, that was the golden age of live music. Since 2019, I’ve been to exactly one concert and really have little desire to see any of the bands I still like live now and price is a big reason.

Yup.

Judas Priest is playing 10 minutes away from me next month. Never seen them. It's a theater in a casino. The cheapest ticket is $100. Now, is that some astronomical sum? No, but it's more disappointing than anything. To me. I've gotten kind of cheap in my older age. I see things differently now. Like, I'd rather spend that money on groceries, etc. I have a desire to attend concerts, but I dont have a strong enough desire, and that is solely due to ticket prices. One's mileage and disposable income may vary.

[noise next door]

Artists are completely in bed with Ticketmaster and Live Nation.

Exactly, the whole implementation of TM's Dynamic Pricing is fully controlled by the artist. They are the one's that approve it. When a controversy sparks up they often pretend they are not involved and it's laughable BS.

The recent Hagar tour had DP turned on fully from the start with tickets at $1,500 each and semi-close tickets at $500. Sammy was totally complicit in the whole thing.

He was pulling in over $2 million grosses at many of the shows...

[CaboChris]

We were debating in another thread whether Sam does it for love or money.

"Dynamic pricing" sure does makes me wonder.

[bklynboy68]

Exactly, the whole implementation of TM's Dynamic Pricing is fully controlled by the artist. They are the one's that approve it. When a controversy sparks up they often pretend they are not involved and it's laughable BS.

The recent Hagar tour had DP turned on fully from the start with tickets at $1,500 each and semi-close tickets at $500. Sammy was totally complicit in the whole thing.

He was pulling in over $2 million grosses at many of the shows...

Since the artist gets paid up front these days, is it safe to assume that they get a percentage of the dynamic pricing also?

[Naked Wake]

Yup.

Judas Priest is playing 10 minutes away from me next month. Never seen them. It's a theater in a casino. The cheapest ticket is $100. Now, is that some astronomical sum? No, but it's more disappointing than anything. To me. I've gotten kind of cheap in my older age. I see things differently now. Like, I'd rather spend that money on groceries, etc. I have a desire to attend concerts, but I dont have a strong enough desire, and that is solely due to ticket prices. One's mileage and disposable income may vary.

I was going to ask you if you were going to that show. I was planning on it but I'm going to Mexico the week before and I'll have to work that day after shuffling days around

[CaboChris]

I was going to ask you if you were going to that show. I was planning on it but I'm going to Mexico the week before and I'll have to work that day after shuffling days around

It's on a Sunday, too. Who wants to go to a killer show on a Sunday night?

[edwardv]

In my 40s I'd hop a plane or train for a Friday or Saturday gig. The band puts out much better.

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[Naked Wake]

It's on a Sunday, too. Who wants to go to a killer show on a Sunday night?

my normal days off are Sunday/Monday so this would actually have been perfect

[lovemachine97(Version 2)]

Look, I think this is one of the best examples of a monopoly and that needs to be addressed. At the same time, one has to also consider than when ticket prices were lower, decades ago, artists also made money from selling records and songs being played on the radio. Now it's touring and licensing for film and TV.

Without having watched the video, does this account for scalping? Scalping was always an issue, and the scalpers got paid. With dynamic pricing and Ticketmaster being in the resale market, the artist gets the extra money, now, not the scalper. Isn't that the way it should be? Ultimately, anything is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Plus, if the artist set the price at $10 per ticket, demand would far, far, far outpace, supply. One can only play so many shows and venues are only so big. And venue size also plays a part in the customer experience. Part of pricing is to not have any empty seats while also not to leaving any money behind. Yet, as I said, the other function in pricing is demand. Scalping isn't going away. So one of the questions is who should get the money?