Would You Pay $4,275 to See Your Favorite Singer?

Taylor Swift fans sang along to hits like “Shake It Off” and “Anti-Hero.” They danced, laughed, and traded beaded friendship bracelets as the pop star performed for more than three hours.

Their seats? Folding chairs in a stadium parking lot. 

As Swift’s sold-out Eras Tour swept the country this past summer, masses of young people camped outside concert venues to at least hear the star’s 44-song set. While 2.4 million Swift fans (known as “Swifties”) had been able to score tickets, millions of others weren’t so lucky.

Taylor Swift performed for more than three hours. The pop star sang hits like “Shake It Off” and “Anti-Hero.” Fans sang along. They danced. They laughed. They traded beaded friendship bracelets.

Their seats? Folding chairs in a stadium parking lot.

Swift’s sold-out Eras Tour swept the country this past summer. About 2.4 million Swift fans (known as “Swifties”) had been able to score tickets. But millions of others were not so lucky. Masses of young people camped outside concert venues. They wanted to at least hear the star’s 44-song set.

When Swift first announced her Eras concerts last fall, many fans wept with joy. (It’s true. Watch the TikToks.) She hadn’t toured since 2018, and anticipation was at a fever pitch. 

The day seats went on sale through Ticketmaster, 14 million people tried to buy them at the same time. Ticketmaster’s site froze and crashed repeatedly. Some people endured an exhausting eight-hour wait online, only to find out that all the tickets had been sold. 

That’s what happened to 15-year-old Kaya Roy of Clarksville, Maryland. Her mother spent hours on the computer trying unsuccessfully to get tickets for Kaya. Eventually Kaya turned to ticket resale sites, but the cheapest seats were $800 each. “I just gave up at that point,” she says.

It’s not just Kaya and other Swift fans who are suffering. Fans of Beyoncé, Harry Styles, and other major acts complain that seeing their favorite singers live has become almost impossible. Last year, tickets to the top 100 North American tours cost an average of $111, up from $79 five years earlier (see graph, below). And if cheap seats are available, ticket resellers often scoop them up. 

To address the issue, several lawmakers are trying to pass bills meant to help music fans. But who’s to blame for this broken system in the first place? And can it be fixed?

Swift first announced her Eras concerts last fall. Many fans wept with joy. (It is true. Watch the TikToks.) She had not toured since 2018. People could not wait.

Then seats went on sale through Ticketmaster. The first day, 14 million people tried to buy them at the same time. Ticketmaster’s site froze and kept crashing. Some people waited eight hours online. It was exhausting. Then they found out that all the tickets had been sold.

That is what happened to Kaya Roy, 15. She is from Clarksville, Maryland. Her mother spent hours on the computer trying to get her tickets. She could not. So Kaya turned to ticket resale sites. But the cheapest seats were $800 each. “I just gave up at that point,” she says.

It is not just Kaya and other Swift fans who are upset. Fans of Beyoncé, Harry Styles, and other major acts are unhappy too. They say that seeing their favorite singers live has become almost impossible. Last year, tickets to the top 100 North American tours cost an average of $111. That is up from $79 five years earlier (see graph, below). And if cheap seats are available? Ticket resellers often scoop them up.

Several lawmakers want to address the issue. They are trying to pass bills meant to help music fans. But who is to blame for this broken system in the first place? Can it be fixed?

For several years, most performers didn’t tour because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now millions of people are excited to hear live music again. But sometimes, there are not enough tickets to go around.

When goods or services are in high demand but short supply, whoever is selling them often raises prices. This is known as supply and demand. 

Many performers choose to allow the cost of their best concert seats to rise and fall according to demand. In other words, prime tickets sell for whatever fans are willing to pay. That can be a lot of money. The average price for a ticket to Swift’s Eras Tour was $215.

For several years, most performers did not tour because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now millions of people are excited to hear live music again. But sometimes, there are not enough tickets to go around.

Sometimes goods or services are in high demand but short supply. When that happens, whoever is selling them often raises prices. This is known as supply and demand.

Many performers let the cost of their best concert seats rise and fall according to demand. In other words, prime tickets sell for whatever fans are willing to pay. That can be a lot of money. The average price for a ticket to Swift’s Eras Tour was $215.

If you’re a fan holding out for cheap seats, good luck. Those seats sell out fast, and your competition probably isn’t even other fans. It’s bots. 

Bots are computer programs that automatically buy tickets as soon as they become available. They can purchase hundreds of tickets in seconds. 

Ticket resellers use bots to buy cheap tickets with the goal of reselling those tickets for much more than they paid. For example, tickets to see Drake on his recent tour started at $69.50. But many of those tickets were sold by ticket resellers for hundreds of dollars apiece. 

Because of this, the resale market for concert tickets is now a $5 billion industry in the United States.

Are you a fan holding out for cheap seats? If so, good luck. Those seats sell out fast. And your competition probably is not even other fans. It is bots.

Bots are computer programs. They automatically buy tickets as soon as they become available. They can buy hundreds of tickets in seconds.

Ticket resellers use bots to buy cheap tickets. Their goal is to resell those tickets for much more than they paid. For example, tickets to see Drake on his recent tour started at $69.50. But resellers sold many of those tickets for hundreds of dollars apiece.

Because of this, the resale market for concert tickets is now a $5 billion industry in the United States.

Even if you do score a ticket, it may cost more than you expect at checkout. The final price is often higher than a ticket’s face value. 

Why? Ticket companies add charges, such as service fees. Venues also charge for hosting the show. These fees can add up to 32 percent to the cost. So a $75 ticket could actually cost you closer to $100.

Say you are lucky enough to score a ticket. If you do, it may cost more than you expect at checkout. The final price is often higher than a ticket’s face value.

Why? Ticket companies add charges, such as service fees. Venues also charge for hosting the show. These fees can add up to 32 percent to the cost. So a $75 ticket could actually cost you closer to $100.

Many of the people angry about the price of tickets blame Ticketmaster. They argue that the company controls so many event sales, it has become a monopoly. In a monopoly, one company is the only choice for buying a particular product or service. Without competition, that company can set any price it wants.

Back in 2010, Ticketmaster merged with a concert promoter called Live Nation. Since then, the partnership has come to dominate ticket sales across the United States. According to some estimates, the joint company controls ticketing at 70 to 80 percent of the country’s major concert venues. Many fans—and artists—say they have little choice but to use it. 

The fallout from ticket sales for Swift’s tour prompted the U.S. Senate to question whether Ticketmaster and Live Nation should be split up. 

But Ticketmaster says it does face competition from other businesses. It blames bots and the overwhelming demand for tickets.

Many of the people angry about ticket prices blame Ticketmaster. They argue that the company has become a monopoly because it controls so many event sales. In a monopoly, one company is the only choice for buying a particular product or service. Without competition, that company can set any price it wants.

Back in 2010, Ticketmaster merged with Live Nation. That is a concert promoter. Since then, the partnership has been dominating ticket sales across the United States. The joint company controls ticketing at 70 to 80 percent of the country’s major concert venues. That is according to some estimates. Many fans and artists say they have to use the service. They do not have much choice.

The fallout from ticket sales for Swift’s tour got attention. It led the U.S. Senate to question whether Ticketmaster and Live Nation should be split up.

But Ticketmaster says it does face competition from other businesses. It blames bots and the overwhelming demand for tickets.

There is some good news. Starting this month, Ticketmaster will now show the full price of tickets up front. This means that buyers will not be surprised by extra fees at checkout.

Still, experts like Eric Budish say more can be done. He is an economist at the University of Chicago in Illinois. Budish says singers could stagger the dates of ticket sales instead of putting all concert dates on sale at the same time. That would help reduce website traffic and glitches. 

Artists could also restrict the resale of their tickets, Budish adds. And they could make a rule that their lowest-priced seats could be sold only for face value. Music acts such as Ed Sheeran have done that. 

There is some good news. Starting this month, Ticketmaster will show the full price of tickets up front. This means buyers will not be surprised by extra fees at checkout.

Still, experts like Eric Budish say more can be done. He is an economist at the University of Chicago in Illinois. Budish says singers could spread out the dates of ticket sales instead of putting all on sale at the same time. That would help reduce website traffic and glitches.

Artists could also restrict the resale of their tickets, Budish adds. And they could make a rule that their lowest-priced seats could be sold only for face value. Music acts such as Ed Sheeran have done that.

Lawmakers are also taking action. This month, a Texas law nicknamed “Save Our Swifties” took effect. It bans bots from buying more than a limited number of tickets. And in Congress, lawmakers are pushing bills boosting fans’ rights nationwide. 

But even a perfect system might not have helped Swift fans. The singer performed 52 stadium shows on the U.S. leg of her tour. But she would have needed to play more than 900 shows to satisfy demand. 

Budish says superstar acts should be honest about those limits. “That might mean saying to fans, ‘Not everybody is going to be able to get a ticket because there just aren’t enough to go around.’” 

Lawmakers are also taking action. This month, a Texas law took effect. It is nicknamed “Save Our Swifties.” The law bans bots from buying more than a limited number of tickets. And in Congress, lawmakers are pushing bills that support fans’ rights nationwide.

But even a perfect system might not have helped Swift fans. The singer performed 52 stadium shows on the U.S. leg of her tour. But to satisfy demand, she would have needed to play more than 900 shows.

Budish says superstar acts should be honest about those limits. “That might mean saying to fans, ‘Not everybody is going to be able to get a ticket because there just aren’t enough to go around.”