Concerts are becoming a problem

Jonathan Adame

Local Music Journalist

Concerts are one of the many live event types running the world as we know it. With Live Nation, one of the biggest live music companies in the world, estimates they made $25.2 billion in ticket sales alone. However, over time, the once cherished art of live music is starting to scare listeners away. Whether that be fellow fans or ridiculous prices, concerts are starting to go to a place many don’t want to see 

One of the biggest issues with concerts as of late has been what many have named “the ticket master war.” By which they mean the process of securing tickets when they are released. Many artists who announce tours will typically announce tickets on their website, followed by a link or code to sign up and secure tickets. The problem with this, however, is how and when to get tickets. It has become a trend to have presales or general sales in the morning around 10 a.m. local time. Where you would eventually go on to wait in a queue with many other fans eyeing those same tickets.  

While this process might seem simple enough, it has become a complication for artists with a big following. An artist who comes to mind is Steve Lacy, who recently announced his tour and had his presale this year. Steve Lacy is playing at the Moody Amphitheater in Austin, which roughly holds 7,500 fans. However, on Spotify, Lacy is listed as the 125th biggest artist in the world with 39.7 million fans. This means 39,692,500 fans will miss out on the opportunity to see him live in Austin, according to Spotify. These numbers don’t account for Apple Music listeners, YouTube Music listeners, or other fans. While Lacy did skip the presale and stuck with just the one time on sale. Many fans lost out on tickets due to user error, lag, and simply not being fast enough to get a spot, with tickets selling out in minutes.  

The other biggest culprit of concert fatigue has come from prices. With Austin City Limits coming up, many have been flocking to buy tickets. Many fans are displeased with the increase in pricing due to inflation. While this might be an issue to consider for the ACL organizers, this has been an issue around the world for concerts. With many VIP options at stadiums running, you can pay anywhere from $300 to $600. While the base price for tickets alone has sent many into a frenzy. This is only the tip of the iceberg, with reselling becoming an unfortunate problem for fans. Scalpers (individuals who buy products with the intention of selling them for a higher price) have run rampant for some of the biggest concerts. International girl pop group KATSEYE is currently on tour and is heading to the Moody Center in November. Presale for the show happened a while ago however it didn’t take long for resale prices to skyrocket. With some tickets selling for over $950. This can be a frustrating sign for many fans who missed out on the chance to buy tickets originally. All hope is not lost, however; many artists have taken note of the reselling crisis and are taking action. Noah Kahan, who recently took a trip down to Texas on tour, put a cap on resale prices. Only allowing prices to be sold for the original face value. Countless other artists have taken part in this, including Olivia Dean and The Cure.  

Ok so you got your ticket. You may think the problems stop there, but that’s where you may be wrong. Concert etiquette has become an unspoken rule for many avid concertgoers. Concert etiquette can include not being rude, not yelling over songs, not ignoring the opener, and not recording the whole show. While these specifics vary from fan to fan, one thing that all concertgoers can agree on is to preserve the space. Everyone in attendance is there to enjoy the concert. However, with concert culture getting out of hand, fans are willing to take no chances. Often camping out hours before a concert to get a good view. Typically, being for a show that has general admission or a pit option.  

While this might be harmless to many fans, this could lead to further complications. Including foul odor, breaking venue rules and even as discussed by Olivia Rodrigo fans going to the restroom on themselves. In an interview with KISS FM UK, she revealed that during a concert she caught a whiff of urine and noted that fans were wearing diapers to not lose their spot.  

While the examples I noted might not be true for all concerts. Recent events have begun to rear their ugly head more and more over time. Putting into doubt if it’s worth it for fans to go to concerts anymore. As someone who has spent hundreds of dollars at concerts and has come face to face with some of the examples, I’d say it hasn’t become the norm yet. Concerts can and will be fun if you make the most of it. And if you think you may have been that person at a concert, remember you are all there for the same reason. So, while it is easy to get wrapped up in the negativity of the concert scene. You are all there to see the same artist, so enjoy the moment while you can, because these memories are the only thing that will last forever.