There's nothing like a live concert experience, where like-minded people come together in a large stadium or arena and enjoy the star they love, leaving all their day-to-day worries, responsibilities, and struggles behind.
However, when concert ticket prices are constantly on the rise, attending a live event is becoming a luxury expense that some fans can no longer afford.
This unfortunate reality makes it harder for diehard music lovers to support the singers and bands they care about.
Who's to Blame?
The music industry has radically changed during the last decade or two.
In the past, artists made most of their money from the sale of records or CDs.
However, today, in the age of cheap streaming media services and totally free music platforms, top-tier celebrity artists like Adele, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga or Beyoncé make most of their revenue from touring.
Still, the artists are not alone in this story.
There's an entire commercial food chain that also takes its piece of the income pie: managers, agents, producers, promoters and other members of the live event industry.
Productions are getting more creative and extravagant in order to face the competition and deliver a spectacular concert experience.
Needless to say, these big shows with amazing stage pyrotechnics, giant screens, special effects and fireworks require massive financial investments.
The skyrocketing production costs are eventually passed on to the consumer via the ticket price.
On the digital front, high-tech bots and scalpers (that operate illegally) snatch most of the tickets the minute they go on sale, only to resell them for a much higher price on alternative ticket distribution channels – aka the secondary market.
Last but not least, it is also a matter of the old rules of supply and demand.
When music lovers are willing to pay ridiculous prices to watch their beloved performers from up-close – why would anything change?
And Still… Can Anything Be Done?
It's a complex reality and there are no easy solutions.
Some lawmakers feel that some form of new legislation has to counter the current manipulated market in order to make ticket prices more affordable and accessible to the masses.
In the meantime, since artists and the gigantic industry that surrounds them are charging as much as fans are willing to pay, consumers can play their part in getting a better deal.
Purchasing tickets from a physical box office can often save a lot of money on the additional service fees that online resale marketplaces charge.
Buying early on pre-sales, which are normally available to certain credit card holders and people who belong to a major artist's fan club, are also a good way to obtain prime seats more affordably.
In addition, legitimate secondary market ticket sites often offer last-minute ticket bargains, sold under their face value, especially when it comes to live entertainment shows with less demand.
