Destination X on BBC One review: this travel show can't beat Race Across The World
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Scotsman
3 hours ago
- Scotsman
How much have concert ticket prices risen in the space of 20 years?
Why have concert tickets not fallen in line with inflation - and could newer record deals be one of the causes of gigflation? Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... 2025's biggest issue in the music scene happens to be one that affects many audiences across the UK. With smaller venues closing and acts adopting more arena shows than traditional tours, could that be the reason why ticket prices have skyrocketed in recent years? Digital marketing experts Dark Horse studied some of 2025's biggest concerts and how ticket prices have increased over a period of 20 years. When did the price of going to a concert become almost akin to a monthly mortgage payment in 2025? That might sound like hyperbole, but if there has been one predominant issue in the world of music throughout the past year, it once again stems from the price of seeing some of our favourite artists when they tour the United Kingdom. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Be it dynamic pricing or the cost of logistics for shipping entire stage productions to the country, there seems to be a real problem as more and more people are struggling to afford what was once considered a beloved pastime for many Brits. But there is more to these costs than simply musicians and management wanting a bigger slice of the pie; other contributing factors also have to be taken into account, including a lack of smaller, grassroots venues, dwindling physical album sales and, according to today's study, the consolidation of tour venues into arena-centric schedules. Bigger venues, bigger crowds – and of course, with that, bigger expenses to cover. Digital marketing experts Dark Horse analysed concert tickets for a selection of top artists, comparing the price in 2005 to 2025, to see whether the cost of seeing them live had kept in line with inflation or outstripped it, and how the UK's median hourly wage compares to the cost of tickets. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad They sourced the cost of tickets 20 years ago through ticket stub archives and eBay, and compared them to the face value price many paid for to see some of this year's biggest shows. Sadly, their findings demonstrate a trend that could see concerts, with many music fans priced out of going to shows, sooner rather than later. How much have concert ticket prices risen since 2005? Dark Horse found that the cost of concert tickets remained the same for some artists, but the bigger acts have seen huge increases over the course of 20 years - and it could continue. | Canva Of the artists that Dark Horse sampled, they showed that ticket prices have far outpaced inflation over the years. The average ticket price for the artists listed has risen from £34.82 in 2005 to £132.90 in 2025, representing an average increase of over 280% over the two decades. If prices had kept pace with inflation, the average ticket price would only be around £60.61 today, highlighting that the actual increase is more than double the rate of inflation. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The price hikes are also more drastic with some artists compared to others; while Robbie Williams and Busted have managed to maintain a low, affordable price to see them perform, the spike in the cost to see Beyoncé on tour was the most dramatic. In 2005, to see her perform would cost fans £27.50, but in 2025, to see her on the 'Cowboy Carter' tour, fans were expected to stump up £224.85 - an increase of 718%. It's a similar situation with Oasis, who in 2005 could be seen for a mere £32.50 to £148.50 - an increase of 357%. That's if you managed to avoid dynamic pricing for those shows, too. How many hours would I have had to work to see Oasis back in 2005? Though Oasis, according to the study, are hardly the worst when it comes to ticket price increases, they have been the talking point throughout the last eight months when it comes to the price of concerts, and again, the problems with a dynamic pricing model. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In 2005, you would have to work 3 hours and 1 minute on a median UK hourly wage to see Oasis on tour, but two decades later, that has increased to 7 hours and 56 minutes on a median UK hourly wage to see them play. Compare that to Robbie Williams (not to cause issues between the two artists), in 2005, it would take 4 hours and 11 minutes to pick up a ticket to see the former Take That member. In 2025, that has only increased by 14 minutes (4 hours 25 minutes) to grab a ticket; a similar situation with Busted too, according to the study. What has led to the increase in concert ticket prices? It clearly can't just be inflation, right? If we were to adjust ticket prices in line with inflation, a ticket to see Oasis in 2025 should have cost £57.20, while to see Coldplay would have cost £62.40, according to Dark Horse's study. There are several factors considered why concert tickets have become a luxury rather than a privilege; AJ Sutherland, a production manager who has worked with artists like Tate McRae and Mura Masa, explained that the surge in concert ticket prices is a trend rooted in the economics of the modern music business. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He connects this shift to the decline of physical music sales, the rise of streaming, and the consolidation of tours into arena-centric schedules. "Back in 2005, artists might have played 20 club shows across the UK," Sutherland notes. "Now they do four arena gigs in major cities and make the same ticket sales in a fraction of the time.' He adds that this new model is not only more efficient but also far more profitable for major artists. Despite the financial benefits for top-tier acts, Sutherland also highlights the serious negative impact on the wider music ecosystem; this shift has led to the closure of grassroots venues, reduced touring opportunities for independent artists, and left fans facing premium prices with a limited choice of shows. Production costs have also driven up the price of putting on concerts, from the cost of fuel for our buses and trucks, wages for an entire crew of lighting techs, to the price of renting state-of-the-art equipment and the venues themselves have escalated dramatically. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But the industry shift, in an era where physical and streaming sales are not what they once were, newer 360 deals might have a part to play in the increase in ticket prices. Traditional record deals would see a label's primary source of income coming from a percentage of album sales, but as that is no longer viable, more and more labels have adopted 360 deals that take a cut not only of their music sales, but other revenue streams too including a cut of any live performances. This partnership with the label can lead to a stronger effort to push for higher ticket prices, more expensive VIP packages, and a wider range of high-cost offerings to increase the total revenue generated from a tour, shifting the entire focus from simply selling records to monetising the artist's brand and live performance at every opportunity. As Dark Horse concluded their study, the question does seem incredibly pertinent: is the joy of live music becoming financially inaccessible? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Do you think that musicians or labels have a responsibility to ensure fans can still see their shows without going into financial ruin, or is it simply a case of supply meeting demand? Let us know your thoughts - or how we can fix the problem - by leaving your comments and ideas below.
Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
Destination X has made a big mistake that could cost its success
The BBC's latest blockbuster reality TV show – Destination X – has been hailed 'The Traitors meets Race Across The World'. It's hard to imagine a greater expectation to live up to and all the foundations are there for it to be bigger and better than both. But after the reaction to the first two episodes, it now feels unlikely. In fact, there's one key problem with the show that I believe is the root of its downfall. Hosted by Rob Brydon, Destination X begins with 13 strangers meeting at a busy airport before they board a claustrophobic coach with opaque windows, and absolutely no idea where they're going. The contestants have to rely on clues sussing out red herrings to decipher, as precisely as possible, where they are in Europe. At the end of each episode, players must try and pinpoint their location on a map with the one furthest away from the correct spot being eliminated. Eventually, they will make their way to Destination X – wherever that may be. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video When I first heard the show was coming to BBC, I was convinced it was going to be one of the standout moments in television of 2025. Want to get all the latest news and predictions for the best and most dramatic show this new year? Join our The Traitors WhatsApp channel for live episode coverage, behind-the-scenes gossip and a place to recover from all the cliffhangers. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! It's been a smash in Belgium, has already been imported to the US where it was presented by The Walking Dead's dreamy villain Jeffrey Dean Morgan and – granted I say this with some bias – I firmly believe Britain makes the best reality television in the world. I had high hopes Destination X would stand on their shoulders as a true giant of reality TV. But, after watching the first episode, it became clear I was way off the mark. It felt like a chore to watch. The game, which sounded fairly simple on paper, was so muddled – the clues were impossible to weed out from the red herrings and the spectacular landscapes that make any great series about travel were intentionally hidden. That, however, is not the fatal flaw. Destination X has already made a big mistake that, at least in this series, can't be fixed. No matter how the game unravels and how much the players turn on each other, Destination X is never going to reach top tier reality TV with this cast who are absolutely… fine. I actually like them all as people – but they're not reality TV stars. It feels like they were carefully handpicked because of their ability to play the game, which in reality television is sacrilege. Reality television isn't the Olympics and it should never be treated as such. The second series of The Traitors was unmissable because its eventual winner Harry Clark was so unnervingly good at deception I genuinely suspect one day he'll be recruited by the secret service, if he hasn't been already. But The Traitors would be nothing without the Linda Rands of the world, who gave herself away seconds after Claudia Winkleman tapped her on the shoulder to be a traitor and then made wonderful mistakes day after day until even she had to concede her time was up. If you had to be a qualified dancer to compete on Strictly, it might be a more spectacular watch – but it definitely wouldn't be as fun. I believe that reality television, bar none, lives and dies by its casting. A great format gets you so far but it's the characters that will keep viewers invested. And after three episodes of Destination X, I can safely say I like everyone on that coach. I'd probably have a lot of fun with them if I met them in person. But great people and great reality TV stars are not part and parcel, and this is proven by the ill-judged casting for Destination X. There is, however, one real character on that bus. London cabbie Daren wants to use the £100,000 prize money to buy his wife – Jackie P – a new kitchen. He's built his career on knowing the streets of the UK's busiest city like the back of his hand but is easily one of the weakest players in Destination X. And thank god he's in there. He's yet to do anything particularly memorable like Alison Hammond breaking the garden table or throwing a tantrum like Peter 'what a sad little life, Jane' Marsh – but he is by far the show's biggest, and arguably only, real character worth truly rooting for. More Trending Thankfully, should Destination X be commissioned for another series – which I really hope it is – it's a problem that can be easily fixed. Players should be handpicked for their personalities, not if they've run marathons across the world, can fly a plane or are a nuclear engineer. Reality television is at its best when it shows how extraordinary ordinary people can be. Diane Carson was just like so many people you could meet at the pub or sit next to on the Tube but she accidentally became a star because of her natural, high-camp energy. Destination X needs a Diane if it's ever going to grab the attention it deserves. Because aside from Daren, there's no one I'm rooting for. View More » Destination X airs Wednesdays and Thursdays on BBC One. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: Top female BBC star 'flashed unwanted nude image' to junior staff in new scandal MORE: The 'Land of the free' just became land of the $15,000 fee MORE: MasterChef fans react to first new episodes with Gregg Wallace and John Torode after sacking
The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Travel warning for Brits heading to Spain amid strikes
While workers are legally required to provide a "minimum service" yet to be determined, the industrial action could still cause significant disruption for travellers. Azul Handling delivers baggage handling services for Ryanair at its Spanish operations. The strikes have been declared following hospitality workers on 12 Spanish islands announcing their own walkout plans. Spanish strikes - what airports are affected? Valencia, Alicante, Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Malaga, Ibiza, Palma, Girona, Tenerife South, Lanzarote and Santiago airports are set to be affected. The strike will impact all operations and work centres in Spain and will occur between 5am and 9am, noon and 3pm and 9pm to 11.59pm. The union has stated its decision to strike stems from what it perceives as a failure to create stable employment and consolidate working hours for permanent part-time workers. Your rights if your flight is cancelled or delayed The unions said in a statement: "UGT regrets having to go to these extremes and all the damages that may occur, for which the direct responsibility will be solely and exclusively the company and its reckless action with the workforce." The FeSMC-UGT Air Sector is calling for the firm to reverse the penalties, adhere to Joint Commission recommendations and immediately begin negotiations to enhance working conditions for more than 3,000 affected employees across the country. A Ryanair spokesperson said: "Ryanair does not expect any disruption to our operation as a result of these third-party handling strikes in Spain." Recommended Reading: The news comes as Brits travelling to Spain from October onwards will also be met with a different-looking entry system. Instead of a paper stamp upon entering countries such as Spain and Italy, there will be a new digital scan. The changes will take place in Europe's Schengen zone within Europe.
