Concert ticket prices fly away
By Louise Blas - Loading & Prospective Watch in Plaine Images
With the Oasis comeback, the discussion on the prices of international stars' concert tickets has resumed more: the dynamic sales system put in place has taken off prices, offending fans in front of prices that double during purchase. By adapting the price of tickets live in the face of demand, this sales method cynically applies the rules of unbridled capitalism ... and it works: all places were sold in 10 hours, despite the controversy . This practice, which is not very widespread in France, is common in the United States. It applies to Live Nation a complaint from the American Justice Department for its practices , after the crazy price scandal of the Taylor Swift tour in 2022.
The hyper inflation of concert tickets therefore has continued its crazy race since the end of the pandemic, and is not ready to stop. The catch -up of incomes not won during the pandemic and inflation have a good back: a study by Polstar commanded by the Wall Street Journal shows that the increase is overcompensated. As noted in this article which draws up a fair panorama of the situation , the concentration of the market around a handful of bankable artists, the monopolistic situation of ticketmaster on the sale of tickets and the stranglehold of live nation on the biggest tours and festivals piping the dice. A detail that is important: the two heavy goods vehicles merged in 2020 to give birth to Live Nation Entertainment.
How to counter this crazy race?
Solutions exist if we want to counter this race, but it is still necessary to the will and a real connivance between artists, producers and spectators. Several recent illustrations show that artists can for example impose their rules. Like the Indochina group, which is regularly speaking on its desire to keep its concert tickets accessible to the large number , and says it refuses the pressure of the producers. The leader of The Cure has also taken Ticketmaster to reimburse fans with part of the ticket purchase costs of the American tour. To the most affordable tickets ($ 20) were added $ 11 of service commission, $ 10 in establishment costs and $ 5.5 of ordering costs, for a total of $ 46.5.
When the request exceeds the supply, other solutions are possible: the law of "first arrival, the first served" still works, even if it requires the sales platforms to have solid kidneys to support the connection flow (reproach very regularly made during major dates). The Paris 2024 Olympic Games, for example, set up a draw .
As for the public, we can obviously wonder about the ability to spend such sums. Alternatives? Refuse to make concerts that exceed a certain psychological price, open your horizon towards less rated artists but just as providing emotions and finding pleasure in discovering and supporting, rather than accepting its rules of the cavalier game.
When will a tech actor take over the problem to offer a solution that will give power to artists and fans?
