Opinion: Ticket Price Gouging Needs To End

Concerts are supposed to be fun, right? A way for fans to connect with their favorite artists, sing their hearts out, and make memories that will last a lifetime?

Maybe at one time.

Lately, however, it feels like the price of concert tickets is stealing the spotlight (or the wallets) of consumers. From crazy expensive related prices, to the stress of even purchasing tickets in the first place, going to a concert has become way harder than it should be. Nowadays, it feels like concerts are becoming less and less about the music and more about who can afford to go.

My parents have told me numerous stories about how cheap tickets used to be when they were my age. My dad has said he would go to concerts for only around $20 per ticket. Even adjusting for inflation, prices aren't even comparable to that anymore.

It's understandable that artists want to make money. After all, most make a pittance in streaming royalties and concerts account for the lion's share of their income. The issue is actually less about the prices artists are charging (even though they are hefty), but more about the resell upcharge, where sellers jump from hundreds to even thousands of dollars per ticket. 

Case in point: Zach Bryan's Quittin’ Time Tour recently went on sale, and I was lucky enough to snag tickets during the initial sale for $110. The next day, after the concerts had sold out on their website, I began to see resellers on websites like Ticketmaster or Stubhub raising prices to as much as $3,000!

The ticket buying process itself is a nightmare of its own. When I tried to purchase tickets to see Gracie Abrams, I was so excited; I love her music. I faithfully signed up for presale and blocked off a time period in my day just to buy the tickets when they went up. The Ticketmaster queue felt endless, and by the time I finally got through, the tickets were sold out. Either you’re lucky enough to grab one, or you're left staring at the resale prices that triple the original price. It’s exhausting and frustrating. Why should buying concert tickets feel like a competitive sport?

Even once you’ve managed to get tickets, the concert experience itself is a headache. For popular artists, long merch lines are the norm. Fans spend hours waiting just to get a t-shirt or hoodie to remember the night at very high prices. Half the time the merch is sold out before the line ends. It feels like the whole system is set up to make things as stressful as possible instead of letting fans enjoy the show.

At the end of the day, I understand why ticket prices aren’t super cheap. Artists, crews, and venues need to get paid. But the whole system needs to change. Reselling is out of control, and companies like ticketmaster make the process harder than it needs to be. Concerts should be about the fans and the music, not who can afford to pay the most or refresh their browser the fastest. Hopefully something changes soon, because everyone deserves to see their favorite artist live without breaking the bank.