The economy of live music — especially in the wake of an especially disruptive pandemic which continues to confound many artists’ touring plans — is at a particularly complex place right now. It also prompts a number of questions as to how musicians, booking agents and venues make up for lost time — should ticket prices increase due to canceled shows? Does it make sense for venues to charge more to cover lost revenue from reduced capacities or air filtration systems?
If there was ever a time to think about the costs associated with live music, this is it. But if the changes to concertgoing have you wondering about the money you spend, a new study has another element for you to consider — namely, the style of music you’re going to see. According to a new article at Ultimate Classic Rock, classic rock audiences are paying the most on average to see their music of choice.
That’s the result of a FinancialBuzz analysis of “concert industry data for 800 of the top touring acts from 2017 to 2021.” Classic rock topped the list, with the average ticket price coming in at $119.14. Pop, at $100.65 per ticket, came in second, but had higher overall revenue for the period in question. Bruce Springsteen’s Broadway residency averaged out as the most expensive tickets for 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Of the genres surveyed in the study, Christian music had the cheapest average ticket prices, at $39.38. Just above it was EDM, at $55.05 a ticket. The most expensive tickets by artist for the years the study covered featured a few familiar names, including Springsteen, Metallica and Dave Chappelle.
One big name whose concerts came in at a relatively modest price? Robyn, who topped the EDM “most expensive ticket by artist” list with an average ticket price of $72.07. Sounds like dancing on your own to “Dancing On My Own” isn’t as pricey as you might think.
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![[L-R] Bill Berry, Michael Stipe, Mike Mills and Peter Buck of R.E.M. at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois on July 7, 1984.](https://www.insidehook.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/rem-book-interview.jpg?resize=750%2C750)
