Investigating skyrocketing concert ticket prices, the podcast explores the frustrations faced by fans, the impact of ticket bots, the rise in ticket prices over the years, the exorbitant expenses of touring, the transparency of ticket resale market, a story of scoring Bruce Springsteen tickets for $5, the challenges of acquiring tickets, and potential solutions to address the high cost of tickets.
The podcast explores the frustration of music fans over the increasing prices of concert tickets and discusses the impact of Ticketmaster on ticket pricing.
The podcast delves into factors like dynamic pricing and the involvement of resellers, prompting discussions on potential solutions.
Deep dives
Rising costs of concert tickets
The podcast explores the frustration of music fans over the increasing prices of concert tickets. It discusses the impact of Ticketmaster on ticket pricing, referencing examples like Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift. Fans share their experiences of trying to secure tickets and the complex dynamics at play. The Taylor Swift tour is highlighted as an example of the chaos caused by ticket sales, delays, and high prices. The podcast delves into factors like dynamic pricing and the involvement of resellers, prompting discussions on potential solutions.
Exorbitant ticket prices and insights from other artists
The podcast discusses the high prices observed for artists like Dave Matthews Band, Metallica, and Morgan Wallen, reaching as high as $42,000. It explores the use of dynamic pricing and its impact on the cost of tickets. The average face value ticket price for various artists is compared, revealing a significant increase over the years. The secondary market and resale prices are also discussed, shedding light on the extreme inflation that occurs. The podcast examines how these factors affect accessibility and the experiences of fans.
Government investigations and consumer advocacy
The podcast mentions ongoing investigations by the Department of Justice and the Senate Judiciary Committee into ticket pricing issues. There are calls to address the antitrust concerns related to the merger of Ticketmaster and LiveNation. The podcast highlights advocacy groups representing resellers and consumer groups pushing for transparent pricing and fair practices. Proposed solutions include banning speculative tickets, capping resale prices, and giving more control to artists. The importance of artists speaking up and the role of legislation in addressing the ticket pricing problem are discussed.
Hopeful signs and progress
The podcast offers hope by mentioning potential positive changes in the ticketing industry. Ticketmaster's commitment to disclosing fees offers transparency to customers. Efforts to break up the LiveNation-Ticketmaster merger and legislation addressing predatory reseller markups are seen as positive steps. The importance of artists taking a stand is emphasized, as some influential artists have successfully called attention to pricing issues in the past. The podcast also highlights the need for travel and experience-based approaches, where fans choose to attend shows in smaller markets or travel internationally to avoid excessive prices.
Puja Patel investigates the skyrocketing cost of concert tickets with Features Editor Jill Mapes and Senior Writer Marc Hogan: How did we get here, and will prices ever come back down to Earth?