Latest news with #livemusic
CNET
3 days ago
- Business
- CNET
I Go to at Least 3 Concerts a Month. Here Are the 7 Ways I Get Cheaper Tickets
Ticket prices have gone up faster than the cost of other consumer goods over the last 20 years. Flashpop/Getty Images If you've been waiting to see your favorite artist perform live, you'll likely need to shell out some serious cash. In 2025, that can mean spending hundreds, even thousands, of dollars for one ticket. For instance, the average price for a secondhand ticket to Taylor Swift's three Eras tour shows in Miami in October 2024 was $3,472, according to a study conducted by SeatPick. CNET While Taylor Swift is certainly one of the largest artists in the world, demonstrated by the Ticketmaster fiasco surrounding tickets her Eras tour, she's not alone. Artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan, who headlined the year's top 100 concerts, have average ticket prices well above $100. Trust me, I understand the mental debate of deciding between either seeing your favorite artist or spending upwards of $500 on a ticket. But here's the thing: you don't always have to spend that much. I prioritize seeing live music twice a week at local venues, but I also go to at least three bigger concerts (at stadiums or amphitheaters) each month. For instance, I'm going to Jin's tour here in Tampa this July, and was able to score an affordable ticket even though he is one of the biggest K-pop artists in the world. I won't gatekeep my tricks of the trade. So while concert tickets for bigger musicians may never be cheap, there are effective ways to save. Below, I break down how much concert ticket prices have risen over the years and efficient tips for saving money. Read more: Buying Concert Tickets Online Is a Mess. 10 Tips for Grabbing the Seats You Want Are concert tickets getting more expensive? Concert tickets can be outrageously expensive. I'm not making that statement based on the anecdotal evidence of millions of people who recount the nightmare experience of fighting for presale codes and then being bombarded with taxes and fees after selecting their seats. I'm basing it on decades of data on the rising ticket costs. According to Pollstar, the average ticket price data from the top 100 tours over the last four years is as follows: Year Average ticket price 2018 $85.03 2019 $91.18 2022 $102.7 2023 $122.84 Based on data provided by Pollstar, ticket prices have gone up faster than the cost of other consumer goods over the last 20 years and have outpaced inflation. My 7 go-to tips for saving money on concert tickets Here are time-honored tips -- plus my own personal lessons from concert ticket debacles over the years -- to finding the lowest ticket prices. Buy tickets early Buy tickets as soon as they go on sale. Early-bird tickets are often cheaper than waiting until closer to the concert date. Being strategic about buying tickets early and using a presale code can help you find the lowest-cost tickets available. PeopleImages/Getty Images Sign up for ticket presales Join artist fan clubs, subscribe to newsletters or follow your favorite artists on social media to access presale offers, which usually have discounted prices. Many concert ticket-distributors, such as Ticketmaster, Live Nation and AXS, offer presale opportunities, so it's best practice to sign up for notifications to never miss out on low ticket prices. Attend weekday shows Concert tickets are usually cheaper on weekdays than on weekends, as demand is generally lower. Over the years, I've saved hundreds of dollars opting to see my favorite artists on weekday nights or even Sunday nights rather than on Fridays and Saturdays. Use student or military discounts Many venues or ticketing platforms in the US offer discounted tickets for college students, military personnel and seniors. Double-check if you qualify for any special discounts. Use a credit card with entertainment rewards You could save up to 4% on concert tickets with an entertainment rewards credit card. Some credit cards may even have partnerships with ticket-distribution companies and will offer card holders exclusive deals, discounts and access to presale tickets. Volunteer at music festivals or venues Volunteering at a multiday music festival or music venue can be an efficient way to get free or discounted concert tickets. For many festivals, you can volunteer for a several-hour shift and then attend the rest of the day for free. Volunteers at music venues, symphonies or theaters often receive discounted or free tickets to performances as a thank you for their work. By volunteering at music venues or festivals, you may receive free or discounted tickets in return for your work. Monkeybusinessimages/Getty Images Purchase during Concert Week Live Nation hosts a Concert Week in early May each year in which the ticket-distribution company offers discounts up to 75% off for over 5,000 shows. In 2025, discounted tickets were available for hundreds of artists, which means there's something for everyone, across all genres. Live Nation also announced the launch of a $30 concert ticket initiative for this upcoming summer. This offering started May 21st and will allow fans to access more than 1,000 shows at select amphitheaters across the US and Canada throughout the summer for just $30. This initiative applies to artists such as The Offspring, Halsey, Avril Lavigne, Kesha, Dierks Bentley, Rod Stewart and more. For more money saving tips, here's tips for saving money on airfare.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Greater Owensboro Music Commission seeking partners for music census
The Greater Owensboro Music Commission is seeking community partners involved in music to help spread the word about the organization's upcoming 'music census.' The plan is to launch the census in July and gather information from anyone involved in music performance, production, education and other avenues. Steve Johnson, facilitator for the Music Commission, said the census results will help the community identify changes that would help promote music. When the results are released later this year, 'it will come with some recommendations' for improvement, Johnson said. 'I don't know what those are, because it will be unique to Owensboro and Daviess County.' The survey and its results will signal nationally 'that Owensboro-Daviess County is serious about music,' Johnson said. According to a press release, the census' findings 'will inform strategies for supporting live music, boosting music education, improving regulations and guiding future investments in the region's cultural economy.' People involved in music in Daviess, Hancock and McLean counties, and others involved with music in Owensboro and Daviess County will be included in the census, the press release says. Johnson said the work now is to get organizations involved in music, such as venues, churches, businesses and others, to spread the word about the census. 'If you look at other communities, they've done this,' Johnson said. The census data will be compiled into a report with findings by Sound Music Cities, an Austin, Texas firm. Johnson said the report is expected to be released in November. Musicians who come in to play at venues such as Friday After 5 can also participate, Johnson said. Some questions will be Owensboro-Daviess County specific, and will look at address any barriers people in music face in the community, Johnson said. 'We want to hear them (musicians): 'Why do they go to Nashville to do a gig?' or, 'What are the biggest barriers' to music performance and the music business in area, Johnson said. 'What are some of the gaps we can fill?' Johnson said later. The recommendations will be driven by the responses to the census. 'It's meant to be realistic ... otherwise, it doesn't get done,' Johnson said. 'We are going to try to find realistic opportunities that exist.' People interested in being a community partner should visit the commission's website,
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
10 can't-miss summer concerts in Columbia, from country faves to Phantom Planet
Touring acts are set to turn up the heat, as the summer concert season rounds into full form. Recently, we looked at some of the great summer concerts coming to Missouri. But what about the shows closer to home? While the Columbia summer calendar still is filling out, 10 shows are already making noise. Here's a brief glance at the concerts we're anticipating between June and August. More: From Dave Matthews to Post Malone, 25 great concerts hitting Missouri this summer Singles like "Off the Ground" and "Life to Fix" have commended this Los Angeles band to listeners; their marriage of rock, blues and "classic vinyl," as AllMusic describes it, has made them a perfect partner for touring acts such as John Mayer, B.B. King and Bob Seger. Learn more at Local artist Byron Neighbors and his sprawling cast of characters focus on the details and further the spirit of Floyd with concerts that are faithful yet follow their own drums. Neighbors' core band, Mercury Trio, shares the bill. Visit for details. Embrace a distinct era of alternative rock with this double bill featuring I Don't Know How But They Found Me — led by former Panic! At the Disco member Dallon Weekes — and "California" hitmakers Phantom Planet. Visit for more. One of the true mainstays of independent music, Doug Martsch's band continues to create guitar rock that is somehow sprawling and insular in its way. Playdead shares the bill. Learn more at For almost 25 years, Black Stone Cherry has carved out a way of life at the intersection of hard rock and Southern rock. Immerse yourself in heavy riffs and an American rasp. Find more details at Nenni offers up a killer country sound with its roots in jukebox classics, but its restless feet always in motion. Rolling Stone examined last year's "Drive and Cry," calling Nenni's effort "the most exciting hard-nosed honky-tonk record of the year." Find details at More: Bonnaroo, Hinterland and other festivals within a day's drive of Columbia Morgan, a venerable Michigan man, loves the outlaw country life and legacy and his style leans toward that side of the sound. AllMusic rightly called him a descendant to the likes of Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard and David Allan Coe. Learn more at From its Montana origins to its Nashville home, Tophouse has criss-crossed America and gathered snippets of its sound, resulting in a this harmony-rich, motion-filled string-band approach that's warm and inviting. Learn more at The Kentucky native keeps the music humming with, as AllMusic notes, "a contemporary lyrical outlook with a sound that harks back to country music of the 1950 and '60s." Presley Haile shares the bill. Learn more at Florida-forged Flipturn "deal in a hook-heavy indie rock that's lush, driving, and passionate," as AllMusic's Marcy Donelson noted. The band's sound is dreamy enough both to drive summer's dog days away and wring the most from what's left of them. Odie Leigh shares the bill. Learn more at Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@ He's on Twitter/X @aarikdanielsen. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Here are the 10 best summer concerts happening in Columbia
The Independent
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Co-op Live co-owner calls for regulation to help stop ticket touts
The boss of one of the co-owners behind Co-op Live has called for stronger powers to turn people away who have bought tickets from touts as he warned over the impact on the live music industry. Tim Leiweke, chief executive of Oak View Group, which co-owns the Manchester arena with City Football Group and pop star Harry Styles, said the so-called secondary market for ticket resales 'ruins the credibility of the industry'. He urged the Government to help the sector crack down on the market by drawing up regulations to stamp out illegal resales and said better technology was needed to spot tickets sold by touts. Mr Leiweke told the PA news agency: 'The biggest problem in our industry is secondary scalpers that have no skin in the game.' He said they were 'trying to take advantage of fans', adding that venues and artists make no money from ticket resales and have no say in the prices charged. 'It ruins the credibility of the industry and it ruins the experience for the fans,' he said. He told PA more advanced technology and greater regulation was needed to enable venues to ban entry for those with illegal ticket resales. 'Eventually with technology we'll be able to sell a ticket to a person and make sure that's the person that shows up and walks into our arena,' he said. 'But we need the Government to help us with this so we have the right to turn people away. 'Secondary ticket scalpers are not good for the economy, not good for the industry and sure as hell aren't good for the fans,' he added. He said a regulated platform was also needed for customers to resell tickets, in conjunction with the industry. 'There are companies out there that are doing it the right way,' he said. His comments came as an independent report commissioned by Co-op Live, Britain's biggest indoor arena, estimated that the venue has contributed more than £1.3 billion in turnover to the local and national economy since development first began in 2021. But the arena suffered a disastrous launch, its opening was delayed several times and the build cost swelled from £365 million initially to more than £450 million by the end of construction. Several major acts had to be postponed, including US pop star Olivia Rodrigo, whose gigs were cancelled because of a string of problems with the venue, which at one stage saw part of its ventilation and air conditioning system fall to the ground from the ceiling. The fiasco ended on May 14 2024, when British band Elbow opened the 23,500 capacity venue. 'Most people don't get to go to hell and back in one year, but we've certainly been in both places,' said Mr Leiweke. 'There were a lot of naysayers who didn't think we'd be successful.' The report by planning consultancy Lichfields calculates that Co-op Live has contributed £455 million in gross value to the UK economy and £852.2 million in sales since it opened its doors a year ago. Oak View Group and co-owners are now looking to invest another £5 million around the venue, which is based on the Etihad Campus in the heart of Manchester. Mr Leiweke added that Oak View Group is also setting its sights on opening another giant arena in London that will eclipse the Co-op Live and the O2 in size, with plans to invest more than £1 billion in further sites across the UK. 'London needs another venue on the north side,' he said. 'We respect the O2, but that's over 20 years old now. 'We're committed now to building a new world class arena like the Co-op Live in the future.'
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Brighton's The Great Escape music festival returns for 2025
Dozens of acts are to descend on Brighton as The Great Escape music festival returns to the acts from Brighton and across the UK will play gigs at various locations in the city this weekend, putting a spotlight on home-grown talent from the festival will also feature three nights of BBC Introducing shows giving a platform to some of the local rising stars from Sussex, Surrey and Kent.A music conference will also take place alongside the event, discussing the future of the industry and the issues facing it. With a packed schedule of gigs, the festival will be spotlighted by standalone shows from The Libertines frontman Pete Doherty in Marine Parade on Wednesday, and Rizzle Kicks, who will play at the Brighton Dome on Introducing's stage will host three nights of shows at the Paganini Ballroom at the Old Ship Hotel from 14 to 16 artists to take the stage include all-female Brighton three-piece Currls and garage rock trio Bones Ate Arfa.
