From dynamic pricing and VIP packages to ‘priority entry’, there seem to be more ways than ever to squeeze money out of music fans - and that’s not even to mention the sky-rocketing cost of a basic standing ticket. The Times' Jonathan Dean has been investigating why the cost of seeing some of our favourite artists has gone stratospheric, and whether the company Live Nation is to blame.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Jonathan Dean

Host: Luke Jones

Producer: Hannah Varrall

Further reading: How did Beyoncé tour tickets go from a small fortune to $25 each?

Johnny Depp: ‘I was a crash test dummy for MeToo'

Further listening: The making of Beyoncé – by friends, family and Team Bey insiders

Music:

Bad Guy by Billie Eilish (written by Finneas O’Connell, Billie Eilish O’Connell, published by Darkroom/Interscope Records, Kobalt Music Publishing)

Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses (written by Duff McKagan, Jeffrey Isbell, Saul Hudson, Steven Adler, W. Axl Rose, published by Guns N Roses P&D)

505 by The Arctic Monkeys (written by Alex Turner, Arctic Monkeys, published by Domino Recording Co)

Clips: Sky News, This Morning (ITV), BBC News, Channel 4 News, Adam Webb from FanFair Alliance, Reg Walker, ABC News, CBS News, The Cure (YouTube), BBC Music (YouTube)

Photo: Getty Images

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

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4: The Bridges