How Did Concerts Get So Expensive?

Getting reasonably priced tickets requires some effort; we offer tips

Ed Condran,

AARP

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Published December 10, 2025

an illustration of a hand holding concert tickets above a sea of money

Paul Spella

Concert tickets were once affordable. A ticket to Eric Clapton’s 1983 performance at Philadelphia’s Spectrum arena sold for $6.50, with no additional fees. I know; I found the ticket in my attic, a memento of that show.

But if you went see Clapton in Philadelphia’s current arena, Xfinity Mobile Arena, this past September, a similar seat would have cost you $397.70. Plus fees!

And no, you can’t blame inflation. That $6.50 ticket would cost about $21.50 today.

Why were tickets for top musicians so reasonable then yet so stratospheric now?

“Some would argue that live music was traditionally far undervalued,” says Andy Gensler, editor-in-chief of Pollstar, a concert trade publication. “In 1983, artists made the majority of their income from recorded music.” Concert tours were a means of album promotion. But the rise of streaming music and its relatively paltry royalty payouts has altered the equation.

There’s another factor at play here: It’s much easier today to resell tickets legally. “Scalping is the reason that tickets cost what they do now,” says Larry Magid, retired legendary concert promoter. “A scalper will take the tickets and sell them for whatever the market will bear. The recording artists now want the money that the scalpers are getting, since they’re the performers.”

And this means that ticket prices are starting higher. Or by the time you get around to buying them, they’ve already been bought up, and the secondary market has driven the price even higher. Some artists are even using a system called dynamic pricing, which can change the face value in real-time, depending on demand, similar to how hotel rooms and airfares are priced.

But there are some options for savvy and industrious fans who want to see the hot shows without spending a fortune.

Discover discounts.

You can find senior discounts for some concerts on major sellers Ticketmaster and AXS. These are set by the concert promoter, not the platform. If available, you’ll see the discounts as one of the pricing options for the event. The deals platform Groupon also offers some discount tickets. I checked and found Psychedelic Furs for $20, Billy Idol for $36 and the Isley Brothers for $30.

Wait.

For many shows, there’s likely a point when those looking to unload tickets will do so at a discount. “Day-of-show prices on the secondary market sometimes come down below market prices,” Gensler says. “Deals can be had there.”

Volunteer.

An online service called Concerted (available in select markets) allows fans to bank volunteer hours with participating nonprofits and then cash in their time for tickets to concerts and sporting events. “We just had people volunteer in exchange for James Taylor tickets,” Concerted CEO Sarah Murray says. “Two hours of service earned general admission tickets. Four hours of service earned seated tickets. What we’re doing is great for those who are retired, since they have more time.”

Also check with your favorite local venues. Some, especially those that operate as nonprofit performing arts centers, use volunteer ushers.

Try a tribute band.

Scan a concert calendar in just about any town and you’ll find groups that perform a specific artist’s catalog. “It’s a much less expensive way to hear your favorite music, sing along and commune with like-minded fans,” Gensler says.

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