Not long ago, concerts were all about the music. Fans camped out for tickets, scribbled setlists from memory, and left shows hoarse, sweaty, and smiling. The experience was raw, unpredictable, and intimate – representing a shared love for the sound, the artist, and the moment. But today, as stadium tours break revenue records and VIP packages redefine access, it’s clear: concert culture has become less about the music and more about the money.
It’s no secret that live music has changed. After listening to the story of my dad’s very first concert in the 80’s – Motley Crue – I compared his experience to my own. He walked into a room full of darkness, soon lit up by lighters once the band began playing. He listened to the music, he saw them through his very own eyes, and has carried that experience with him his entire life. My first concert was lit up by phone screens, even with the lights still on. If someone were to ask me, “how was the concert?” all I would have to do is pull my phone out and show them a video.
Don’t get me wrong – it’s nice to capture the moment, and I’m grateful I can vividly see it in video form when looking back on special moments like that. However, it’d be more special if I were able to tell the story in a world where phones were absent.
In the past, artists made most of their income from album sales, and tours were primarily promotional. But in today’s streaming-dominated world, where Spotify payouts are infamously low, live shows have become the main revenue stream. As a result, concerts are no longer just events, they’re basically products, marketed and sold with precision.
A perfect example? The insane rise in ticket prices. According to Pollstar, the average concert ticket in 1996 cost about $26. In 2024, that number soared past $120, with high-demand artists like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Bad Bunny charging several hundred dollars per seat, and this is before fees. Add in resale markups on sites like StubHub, and many fans are left watching from the sidelines.
But it’s not just about base prices anymore. VIP packages, exclusive pre-sales, fan club memberships, and dynamic pricing have turned the simple act of buying a ticket into a high-stakes competition. “VIP experience” tickets can include perks like early access, premium seats, private lounges, and meet-and-greets. The downside? These things often come with four-digit price tags. For some fans, it’s worth it. For others, that could put food on the table for a month. It’s exclusionary.
Technology has also changed the game. In the age of Instagram and TikTok, concerts are now highly curated visual experiences. Artists design shows to be seen through screens. If their set isnt post worthy, or aesthetic to their viewers, they lose revenue, publicity and promotion. Elaborate stage productions, outfit changes, and massive LED displays are as much a part of the performance as the music itself. For many attendees, capturing the “perfect post” can become more important than the live experience.
This shift has also changed the way fans behave. Where once you saw lighters held high, now you see a sea of phones. Fans used to sing along and dance to their favorite songs, now many are filming, live-streaming, or even watching the show through their screen instead of the stage. Some artists, like Jack White and Bob Dylan, have pushed back by banning phones at their shows. Others embrace the trend, knowing viral clips can boost their brand.
There’s something to be said for what’s been lost: the grit, the spontaneity, the feeling of a show being just for you and the few hundred others in the room. When tickets become status symbols and the concert itself feels secondary to the spectacle, we’re forced to ask: are shows sold out, or just sold?