The cost of live music
Discussion
Some gigs announced recently with some top prices being (not VIP prices but large sections of the normal seating or standing)
Guns N Roses £165
ELO £121
Robbie Williams £108
Adele £105
Rainbow £67
Even Marillion who only just sold tickets for under £35 are playing at the Albert hall for nearly £70.
There were numerous bands this year also charging near on £80 to £90 - examples being Bruce Springsteen and AC/DC.
I know these are all quite popular bands but basically is £70+ soon going to be the norm see any well established band.
I understand bands have to make a profit but some of this is taking the piss. I don't believe the price is down to the venue because often the same venue will host much cheaper gigs. I also understand inflation but ticket prices seem to be rising way to much in the last few years.
Some might say go and see cheaper bands but I am noticing the same trend at the lower end also!
Guns N Roses £165
ELO £121
Robbie Williams £108
Adele £105
Rainbow £67
Even Marillion who only just sold tickets for under £35 are playing at the Albert hall for nearly £70.
There were numerous bands this year also charging near on £80 to £90 - examples being Bruce Springsteen and AC/DC.
I know these are all quite popular bands but basically is £70+ soon going to be the norm see any well established band.
I understand bands have to make a profit but some of this is taking the piss. I don't believe the price is down to the venue because often the same venue will host much cheaper gigs. I also understand inflation but ticket prices seem to be rising way to much in the last few years.
Some might say go and see cheaper bands but I am noticing the same trend at the lower end also!
Fair point about gigs being main source of income but I am don't buy the inflation/costs argument as much.
Back in 2005 I saw U2 who had a massive stage as top price tickets were something like £60 with vast majority of sating in the stadiums around £30.
Now we are getting to the stage of the cheap seats being £60-£70.
Bearing in mind that at somewhere like the O2 you would times that extra increase by 20,000 and at Wembley by 80,000 - in addition the tours stop at multiple cities.
I suspect price rises for certain major bands won't make any difference to sales as ultimatley emotions are involved and people will pay whatever to see their favourite band. Hopefulyl the mid and lower levels will stay more reasonable.
BTW to the other post I saw Australian Pink Floyd this year - I have seen them 6 times. I don't think they are worth £45. I think their quality has gone down since they split (and the other band became Brit Floyd). Value is subjective but they are worth closer to £30. But they had VIIP tickets for something like £118 - madness!
Back in 2005 I saw U2 who had a massive stage as top price tickets were something like £60 with vast majority of sating in the stadiums around £30.
Now we are getting to the stage of the cheap seats being £60-£70.
Bearing in mind that at somewhere like the O2 you would times that extra increase by 20,000 and at Wembley by 80,000 - in addition the tours stop at multiple cities.
I suspect price rises for certain major bands won't make any difference to sales as ultimatley emotions are involved and people will pay whatever to see their favourite band. Hopefulyl the mid and lower levels will stay more reasonable.
BTW to the other post I saw Australian Pink Floyd this year - I have seen them 6 times. I don't think they are worth £45. I think their quality has gone down since they split (and the other band became Brit Floyd). Value is subjective but they are worth closer to £30. But they had VIIP tickets for something like £118 - madness!
On that note, a few years ago Bon Jovi tried to play something like 10 days at the O2 at the height of the recession - they had to start discounting prices big time to get people in as the prices were so ridiculous.
I saw the same thing at the Royal Albert Hall for a concert a few weeks ago where they sent peopel from the cheap seats down to the floor to fill it up.
I saw the same thing at the Royal Albert Hall for a concert a few weeks ago where they sent peopel from the cheap seats down to the floor to fill it up.
Was gonna see Joe Bonamassa at the RAH the other day - £70 for the cheap standing ones at the top to well over £100 for normal seats.
its actually the second time I've not gone to see him because of cost - primarily because he is in the second tier or artists I like but not desperate to see.
I read on one of his forums they previously had to advertise in the mainstream media because tickets of his previous tour didnt sell out.
its actually the second time I've not gone to see him because of cost - primarily because he is in the second tier or artists I like but not desperate to see.
I read on one of his forums they previously had to advertise in the mainstream media because tickets of his previous tour didnt sell out.
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