Concert tickets are expensive as hell these days, but why? Business Insider just dropped a full-on 30 minute look into why concert tickets are so insanely expensive in 2025, which I’ve broken down into each section below.
On the video itself, Business Insider said: “Seeing your favorite artist onstage has never been more expensive. In the 1960s, a ticket to see The Beatles could cost around $5. In 2024, the average concert ticket in the US was nearly $136. And on the resale market, prices can jump to almost double that, with some Taylor Swift fans paying thousands of dollars for a single seat.
“Business Insider spoke with individuals across the live music ecosystem — including Live Nation and Ticketmaster, resale sites like StubHub, musicians, lawyers, government officials, music journalists, and fans — to unravel why concert tickets have become so expensive and why many people believe the system is rigged against ordinary fans.”
The Evolution of Concerts
For much of the 20th century, concerts were inexpensive because touring was primarily a promotional tool for selling records. Artists earned most of their income from album sales, and live shows were relatively simple productions. Over time, concerts became more elaborate and expensive to produce, setting the stage for higher ticket prices as the industry evolved.
The Fall of Recorded Music
The rise of the internet and platforms like Napster devastated recorded music sales, cutting U.S. revenue in half between 1999 and 2009. As income from albums collapsed, artists increasingly relied on touring as their main source of earnings, fundamentally reshaping the music industry and driving up the importance – and cost – of live performances.
Ticket Pricing Breakdown
Modern ticket prices are divided among many players, including venues, promoters, artists, and ticketing companies. From a $140 average ticket, large portions go to production costs, taxes, and fees, leaving artists with far less profit than fans might expect after covering touring expenses. Added ticketing fees – often 25–30% of the price – further inflate costs for consumers.
The Rise of Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster transformed ticketing from a cost into a profit center in the 1980s by raising service fees and sharing revenue with venues. This strategy led to exclusive contracts and rapid consolidation, giving Ticketmaster control of most of the ticketing market by the mid-1990s. Although challenged by artists like Pearl Jam, government investigations ultimately took no action.
The Rise of Live Nation
Live Nation grew by buying local promoters and venues, creating a nationwide concert promotion network. After being spun off from Clear Channel, it became the world’s largest concert promoter, controlling the majority of major U.S. amphitheaters and positioning itself as a dominant force in live music.
Ticketmaster and Live Nation Merger
The 2010 merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation sparked widespread criticism from artists, politicians, and fans who feared a near-monopoly. Despite backlash and concerns over market power, the Department of Justice approved the merger, creating Live Nation Entertainment.
The Rise of Live Nation Entertainment
Following the merger, Live Nation Entertainment expanded into nearly every aspect of the live music business, including artist management, festivals, sponsorships, and resale. Ticket prices and fees continued to climb sharply, especially after the pandemic, intensifying fan frustration over opaque and escalating costs.
Taylor Swift Fans Sue Live Nation
The chaos surrounding ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in 2022, including Ticketmaster crashes and massive resale prices, ignited lawsuits from fans. The backlash led to Senate hearings and increased scrutiny of Live Nation Entertainment’s market power and practices.
United States v. Live Nation Entertainment
In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit alleging that Live Nation uses its dominance to stifle competition through exclusive contracts and a self-reinforcing “flywheel” business model. The case, scheduled for trial in 2026, aims to challenge the company’s control over ticketing, promotion, and venues.
Live Nation Entertainment’s Side of Ticket Prices
Live Nation argues that artists set ticket prices and that the company earns only a small share per ticket, especially from fees. Executives claim their practices are standard across the industry and deny that their dominance is responsible for high prices, despite evidence that ticketing is one of their most profitable business segments.
The Blame Game
As prices rise, Live Nation blames demand and artists, artists blame fees and consolidation, and fans grow increasingly frustrated. No single party accepts full responsibility, leaving the industry at a stalemate while costs continue to increase.
Musicians’ Side of Ticket Prices
Musicians acknowledge that artists set base prices but argue that Live Nation’s control over venues, promotion, and ticketing gives it outsized influence. While critical of the company’s power, many artists also recognize that consolidation across the industry limits alternatives.
The Rise of Ticket Resale
The secondary ticket market has significantly worsened affordability, with resale prices often far exceeding face value. Artists and lawmakers have criticized resellers for predatory practices, while data shows resale tickets frequently cost double the original price.
StubHub’s Side of Ticket Prices
StubHub claims most tickets on its platform are affordable and argues that sellers – not the company – set prices. However, resale platforms charge high fees to both buyers and sellers, making them major contributors to inflated final costs and drawing lawsuits over hidden and deceptive fees.
Dynamic Pricing
Dynamic pricing allows ticket prices to rise in real time based on demand, enabling artists to capture revenue that would otherwise go to resellers. While some artists use it, many fans and musicians criticize the practice for making concerts inaccessible to ordinary audiences.
Favorite Concerts
Despite the frustration and high costs, everyone interviewed shared meaningful memories of concerts that deeply impacted them. These experiences highlight why live music matters and underscore fears that, without reform, rising prices will increasingly exclude “normal” fans from moments that define music culture.
