What Ticketmaster Doesn't Want You To Know: Concerts Were Cheap For Decades

[triplets_93]

Ticketmaster and Live Nation have destroyed the concert experience. But it didn't use to be this way. Today, Oasis and Taylor Swift tickets might go for thousands of dollars, but back in 1955, you could see Elvis Presley in concert for less than the modern-day equivalent of $20.

We investigated further and found ticket stubs from the biggest acts between 1970-1989, and they all cost around $45. Now you’re paying exorbitant service fees and indie venues are getting squeezed, all because two corporations gobbled up the industry.

So how did they do it? Watch our full deep dive into the history of concerts over the last 70 years and how corporate greed turned one of the most populist forms of entertainment into a luxury good.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

Ticketmaster and Live Nation have destroyed the concert experience. But it didn't use to be this way. Today, Oasis and Taylor Swift tickets might go for thousands of dollars, but back in 1955, you could see Elvis Presley in concert for less than the modern-day equivalent of $20.

We investigated further and found ticket stubs from the biggest acts between 1970-1989, and they all cost around $45. Now you’re paying exorbitant service fees and indie venues are getting squeezed, all because two corporations gobbled up the industry.

So how did they do it? Watch our full deep dive into the history of concerts over the last 70 years and how corporate greed turned one of the most populist forms of entertainment into a luxury good.

This might get more attention in the off topic zone. I cannot stand Ticketmaster/Live Nation. Isn't what Ticketmaster is doing essentially the same as scalping, which is illegal? In 1979-1980 i saw Van Halen for 6.50, KISS for 8.00 and Rush for 10.00.

 

[triplets_93]

This might get more attention in the off topic zone. I cannot stand Ticketmaster/Live Nation. Isn't what Ticketmaster is doing essentially the same as scalping, which is illegal? In 1979-1980 i saw Van Halen for 6.50, KISS for 8.00 and Rush for 10.00.

Feel free to re-post it there. I have no issues with that!

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

Maybe a mod can move if they deem it necessary

 

[John813]

Which is why I don't go to concerts anymore. Don't like not supporting musicians, but I'm not paying a lot for an "experience".
Just like sports, there's a cut off where the couch is more enjoyable than going to a game. NFL and NHL.

 

[triplets_93]

Concert promoters, hotels and lodging sites soon will have to disclose extra fees up front

https://apnews.com/article/ftc-junk-fees-rule-hotels-tickets-085606d99f137040e9a86e5b1ac04068

 

[lukin2006]

Saw The Who in 80/81 something like that for $13.50. I just paid $127 to see AC/DC in Detroit. And I get whacked because we have the northern peso…but AC/DC is great live.

 

[triplets_93]

FTC sues Ticketmaster and Live Nation over ticket brokers and fees

https://www.axios.com/2025/09/18/ftc-ticketmaster-live-nation-ticket-brokers

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

FTC sues Ticketmaster and Live Nation over ticket brokers and fees

https://www.axios.com/2025/09/18/ftc-ticketmaster-live-nation-ticket-brokers

Good, go get them FTC

 

[triplets_93]

Prices including service fees:

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

Prices including service fees:

first time I saw Rush was the permanent waves tour, ticket was like 8:50. The last time I saw them which was the R40 tour my ticket was 80. As much as I love the band probably going to have to sit this one out due to the high prices

 

[pete026]

first time I saw Rush was the permanent waves tour, ticket was like 8:50. The last time I saw them which was the R40 tour my ticket was 80. As much as I love the band probably going to have to sit this one out due to the high prices

At 21,120 in line, probably going to have to sit it out anyways. KIA Forum capacity for concert = 17,505.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

At 21,120 in line, probably going to have to sit it out anyways. KIA Forum capacity for concert = 17,505.

Would make a joke about you being 2112 0 in line but ya that is insane. Really wish they would have added some dates that were more in the interior areas of the country

 

[pete026]

Would make a joke about you being 2112 0 in line but ya that is insane. Really wish they would have added some dates that were more in the interior areas of the country

Didn't even catch that !

 

[pete026]

Just checked MSG New York. Nosebleeds for $539/ticket before fees. Not many left.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

Just checked MSG New York. Nosebleeds for $539/ticket before fees. Not many left.

That's crazy, wonder how much the shows in Fort Worth are going for

 

[triplets_93]

That's crazy, wonder how much the shows in Fort Worth are going for

My Rush Artist PreSale Report from Dallas on Monday, Oct. 13th for the 12pm sale for Ft. Worth Dickies Arena.

From the email reminder from TM for the presale, I clicked on the link for the Rush date I was looking for (Sunday, June 28th, 2026) at about 11:15am.

That took me to a TM screen where it said the Next Sale starts today @ 12:00pm CDT 44 min and 45 seconds from now. A countdown timer to 12:00 Noon was now displayed.

About 11:50am, the Waiting Room screen popped up and I selected to enter the Waiting Room.

At noon the sale began, and I was in the queue at #1106.

About 10 minutes later, I was at the order screen.

I changed the filter to look for only "Standard" tickets for one seat.

In the Upper Bowl, the cheapest seat available was $199.00 in Sec. 225 and I think it said "Preferred Seating" for that seat.

There were no seats available to select from Sec. 213-217, which was what I was shooting for.

I did not select that $199.00 seat.

Other seats listed were "Artist PreSale" $360.00 Sec. 117 Row 5

"Official Platinum" $994.00 Sec. 105 Row 4

So you can make of that what you will.

Looking forward to the Blu-Ray!

 

[Cowgirl_Kelly]

My dad tells me that he used to be able to go see huge concerts in the 80s for less than it costs to park today. It is ridiculous what they charge now, and they make it so no one can actually get the tickets when they are on sale, you have to get them from the secondary market.

 

[jsb357]

I paid $12 to see SRV in Temple Texas after his second album release...

Last concert was I saw was RUSH in COTA (Austin) was $60

$100 is my max for a single concert ticket.

 

[IMGumby]

My dad tells me that he used to be able to go see MULTIPLE huge concerts in the 80s for less than it costs to park today. It is ridiculous what they charge now, and they make it so no one can actually get the tickets when they are on sale, you have to get them from the secondary market.

Fixed it for you. Sounds like your dad and I are close in age. Parking at AT&T for the Nov 3rd Cardinals / Cowboys game is currently $96 and up. I would guess the average price I paid from 1978 through 1984 (High school / college years) was $12 or 8 shows for the current price of parking. It was possible to go to a good concert and pay for it with an extra shift at a minimum wage job as I posted in another thread about the Rush tour.