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Short n’ Sweet: Are Affordable Concert Tickets History?

Elma T.
Sabrina Carpenter will go on tour to promote her new album, Short n' Sweet. However, fans have criticised high concert ticket prices. To many, the costs far exceed the value of the performance.

Elma Taric

Sabrina Carpenter will soon go on tour to promote her new album, Short n’ Sweet. However, fans have criticised high concert ticket prices. To many, the costs far exceed the value of the performance.

This isn’t the case only for Sabrina. Over the last decade, concert tickets have significantly increased, becoming borderline unaffordable.

Sabrina Carpenter’s Tour

Singer and songwriter Sabrina Carpenter has announced her fifth tour to support her album, Short n’ Sweet, which will be released on 23rd August.

Carpenter has recently gained popularity for her songs Please, Please, Please and Espresso. She has also made history, as both songs have successfully reached the top 100 Billboard charts and landed in the top three. The artists who achieved the same feat include The Beatles in 1964.

Carpenter will visit the United States, Canada and Europe across six months, starting in September 2024 and ending in March 2025.

Fan Reaction

Carpenter fans were initially excited upon the announcement of her tour. However, they quickly changed their minds once they saw the ‘extortionate’ prices for one ticket, which ranged from £200 to £300.

Consequently, Carpenter has been accused of ‘price-gouging.‘ Price-gouging in the music industry refers to when musicians charge high for their concerts and gigs. This is especially common when the demand is high, like when an artist is popular. With a sudden burst of popularity around the globe, many have thought Carpenter has used it to her advantage to increase the price.

“Considering the state of people’s finances nowadays, ticket prices need to change now more than ever.”

Speaking of her fame, many also claim that as a breakout artist, Carpenter’s ticket prices are too high and unjustified. They have taken to social media to compare Carpenter to Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, who have ‘been in the business’ longer. Both artists have had tours this year, with their general seating ticket prices also selling around the £60-500 mark. Taylor Swift’s concert tickets have sold for up to $1,000 in some cases.

Why Are Concert Tickets So High?

Concerts were not always as expensive as they are now. This is because artists would get the majority of their revenue through albums.

“Carpenter fans were initially excited upon the announcement of her tour. However, they quickly changed their minds once they saw the ‘extortionate’ prices for one ticket, which ranged from £200 to £300.“

Concerts were a strategic marketing tool to promote their music.” Live performances incentivised fans and casual listeners to go to their local music store and purchase albums. However, the ’90s and 2000s completely changed the industry’s mindset through global piracy. Illegal sharing reduced profits and, subsequently, the value of albums by half.

Technology development changed the business model entirely, and with music subscription services underpaying artists, some musicians have nowhere else to turn to except for concerts. These can be expensive with sets, pyrotechnics, and harnesses. Tickets need to be expensive, so the time they invest is worthwhile.

Inflation also plays a significant role. A study from the European-based company PMP Strategy suggests that since 2019, concert ticket prices have risen at twice the rate of inflation.

“The rate of inflation has risen to 13.6%—while ticket costs have skyrocketed to 22.7 per cent.”

Organisers in the music industry are using inflation to earn more. The UK is the second highest country in terms of concert and festival costs, with the US taking first place. Carpenter will be performing in both.

Should Tickets Cost Less?

It is unfair to claim Sabrina Carpenter is ‘too new’ to justify the price of her concerts. Carpenter has been well-known since her Disney years and is making traction in the music industry. Moreover, she has been making music since 2014 she began her solo singing career. Since then, Sabrina Carpenter has produced over 400 songs. It is contradictory to say she cannot price her tickets similarly to Swift or Beyoncé because she has already proven talented enough.

“High prices collectively rob people of a unique musical experience, which should not be happening.“

The problem here lies in the belief that the tickets must be expensive just because an artist is popular. General tickets should be general—meaning the tickets should naturally be cheaper. It needs to be accessible to the general public. This standard should be upheld regardless of the artist’s popularity or significance. Just because a singer is famous does not mean that the price of a ticket should be an arm and a leg.

Considering the state of people’s finances nowadays, ticket prices need to change now more than ever. Fans have pointed out that the cost of living crisis has disadvantaged them. Concert tickets leave them priced out, unable to see their favourite artists. A UK survey found that 51 per cent of people could not attend concerts due to ticket prices. This is because the cost of essentials is indefinitely higher. That’s an astounding half of the people who had to skip the chance to see their favourite singer. The music sphere is capitalising on inflation when it could be cheaper.

While many (rightfully) have qualms about Carpenter’s ticket prices, this is not an isolated issue within the music industry. High prices collectively rob people of a unique musical experience, which should not be happening.

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Featured image courtesy of Nainoa Shizuru on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image licence found here.

Elma Taric is a Psychology and Criminology student based in Australia. She has aspirations of working in the Criminal Justice and Journalism industries. Elma currently writes pieces on news, entertainment and sports.

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