For Many Music Fans, The Cost of a Ticket Has Become Insurmountable
As prices continue to soar for live music events in the UK, fans are being forced to make tough decisions about how often they can attend concerts. For some, the cost has become too high, leading them to opt out altogether.
Amy Law, a 35-year-old New Zealander living in London, is not alone in her struggles. She used to attend gigs weekly, but since June, she hasn't been able to afford tickets anymore. The rise of dynamic pricing and resale websites has made it difficult for fans like Amy to find affordable options.
"I've decided against seeing Lost Frequencies at Electric Brixton this week because the ticket was over £50," she says. "It's a shame because gigs are such an amazing way to experience live music, but we're missing out."
Amy has taken matters into her own hands by booking a flight to Luxembourg to see Lorde play for €50 (£43.62). While it may not be the same as attending a gig in the UK, she believes it's worth it to see her favorite artist perform live.
Mark Rushton, a 65-year-old from Bury, has also been affected by the rising costs of tickets. He points out that extra fees for larger gigs have put him off going to see shows in Manchester. "It's outrageous prices, plus booking fees and car parks," he says.
Rushton blames Ticketmaster for enabling high fees and notes that the company must now give fans more information about ticket pricing while they're in online queues.
Nathan Maddison, a 57-year-old finance technician from Newcastle, is cutting back on larger gigs due to financial constraints. "I turned down an opportunity to see Iron Maiden in June because it was just not financially doable," he says.
Elaine, a 48-year-old from London, has also been affected by the rising costs of tickets. She's recently become a "one and done" gig goer, meaning she only attends one show per event. "Outrageous ticket prices have stopped me going to see someone I've seen before," she says.
In contrast, Mark Woollard, a 51-year-old facilities manager from London, has found ways to attend smaller gigs that fit within his budget. He's started looking for up-and-coming artists and attending grassroots events. "It's been great to experience truly intimate gigs in smaller venues," he says.
Woollard notes that these shows often come with perks like meeting the artists themselves selling merchandise after their performances.
As prices continue to soar for live music events in the UK, fans are being forced to make tough decisions about how often they can attend concerts. For some, the cost has become too high, leading them to opt out altogether.
Amy Law, a 35-year-old New Zealander living in London, is not alone in her struggles. She used to attend gigs weekly, but since June, she hasn't been able to afford tickets anymore. The rise of dynamic pricing and resale websites has made it difficult for fans like Amy to find affordable options.
"I've decided against seeing Lost Frequencies at Electric Brixton this week because the ticket was over £50," she says. "It's a shame because gigs are such an amazing way to experience live music, but we're missing out."
Amy has taken matters into her own hands by booking a flight to Luxembourg to see Lorde play for €50 (£43.62). While it may not be the same as attending a gig in the UK, she believes it's worth it to see her favorite artist perform live.
Mark Rushton, a 65-year-old from Bury, has also been affected by the rising costs of tickets. He points out that extra fees for larger gigs have put him off going to see shows in Manchester. "It's outrageous prices, plus booking fees and car parks," he says.
Rushton blames Ticketmaster for enabling high fees and notes that the company must now give fans more information about ticket pricing while they're in online queues.
Nathan Maddison, a 57-year-old finance technician from Newcastle, is cutting back on larger gigs due to financial constraints. "I turned down an opportunity to see Iron Maiden in June because it was just not financially doable," he says.
Elaine, a 48-year-old from London, has also been affected by the rising costs of tickets. She's recently become a "one and done" gig goer, meaning she only attends one show per event. "Outrageous ticket prices have stopped me going to see someone I've seen before," she says.
In contrast, Mark Woollard, a 51-year-old facilities manager from London, has found ways to attend smaller gigs that fit within his budget. He's started looking for up-and-coming artists and attending grassroots events. "It's been great to experience truly intimate gigs in smaller venues," he says.
Woollard notes that these shows often come with perks like meeting the artists themselves selling merchandise after their performances.
I think it's super unfair how ticket prices are rising and making it hard for people to attend live music events 
. I know some of my friends who are huge fans of certain bands are having to skip gigs because they can't afford the tickets anymore 
. It's not just about the cost, but also about the experience - live music is a big part of the fun and energy of being at an event 
. Maybe Ticketmaster could do more to explain their pricing and fees? 
The music industry is just trying to adapt to the changing times, ya know? 
They're not just gonna keep hiking up prices and expect people to shell out hundreds for a concert ticket. And yeah, dynamic pricing is super unfair - it's like, you go online at 10am, see that tickets are £50, and then they jack 'em up to £150 by the time you try to buy. It's just not cool. 
But, on the flip side, if Mark Woollard can get down with seeing up-and-coming artists in smaller venues, more power to him, right? 
And I guess Amy's solution of booking a flight to see Lorde isn't too shabby either... 
. I mean, who needs a fancy car park when you can just chill outside and enjoy the music 
? And don't even get me started on dynamic pricing - it's like they're trying to rip us off, right? 
. Maybe we can support more up-and-coming artists and find cheaper alternatives? Or maybe Ticketmaster needs a reality check, lol 
its not fair that ppl can't afford concert tickets anymore 
the dynamic pricing thing is wild idk how ticketmaster gets away w/ all these extra fees 
. I get it, there's always gonna be some demand for live events, but when prices are rising like crazy, it becomes a luxury that not everyone can afford 
.
