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The gig economy: ticket inflation is getting worse, so where does all the money go?

Taylor Swift’s Eras tour and the Gallaghers’ ill-fated dabble with dynamic pricing have put the spotlight on how much we’re willing to pay for live music. But, on the other side of the equation, the costs can be exorbitant and the risks are eye-watering

I spoke to a range of voices across the live music business – ticketing companies, agents, promoters and artist managers – to understand not just how prices are set but also what costs need to be covered by gig revenues. Go down the food chain from Oasis and Taylor Swift, who grossed more than $2bn last year, to mid-sized and smaller acts, and it becomes painfully clear that concert tickets are not the cash bonanza of common presumption. In the vast majority of cases, people are losing money Tom Schroeder is EVP of live agency Wasserman Music UK and his roster includes Fred Again and Raye, both of whom are now at, or approaching, arena level.

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