Concerts are a favorite pastime for many music lovers, but some say the rising cost of live music is hitting a sour note.
BYU students weighed in on just how much they’re paying — and what’s too much for a glimpse of their favorite artist in action.
From Taylor Swift to Bad Bunny, concerts are selling out fast — and people are paying more than ever to see their favorite artists. But how much is too much?
Here on BYU’s campus, students say live music is worth the cost. Rising prices has made concert attendance a splurge that’s a little outside of their student budget.
"I’ve only been to a few, but all three times it’s been an amazing experience," said Emily Thompson. "I’ve loved it so much."
"I don’t really go to concerts because it’s pretty expensive," said Nika Woehl. "The last concert I went to was in 2023 and that’s cause it was a small band and it was only $10-15, but most concerts are $50 plus so it’s not feasible."
A quick survey of BYU students found that most attend two to three concerts a year. The average ticket price they’ve paid? Around $50.
Some say they’ve gone much higher for bucket-list performers.
Ella Demordaunt said that for Taylor Swift, it was $3000 for a concert ticket.
Still, others are drawing the line. Most students say they wouldn’t spend more than a hundred dollars for a single show — no matter how big the name.
"Honesty the most is 60-70 bucks, I wouldn’t say too much compared to the other concerts out there," said Sam Scheffner.
You can’t blame it all on the artists. With music streaming capabilities, performers are relying more heavily on touring for their income than ever before.
Inflation, rising tour costs, elaborate stage productions, increased demand and ticket scalpers are all contributing factors. Experts say that expensive concert tickets are the new normal.
But whether it’s pit tickets or a seat in the nosebleed section, one thing’s for sure — students aren’t tuning out anytime soon.
As prices climb, they say the experience is still worth it... as long as the beat — and their budget — go on.