Concert Tickets Soar, Leaving Fans Feeling "Forced Out"

Music fans in Scotland are expressing outrage at the skyrocketing price of concert tickets, with some feeling they are being "forced out" of attending major gigs.

The latest controversy centers around Sabrina Carpenter's upcoming tour, which will see her perform at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow in March 2025. While the Hydro website advertised tickets starting at £58, many fans reported that within minutes of going on sale, tickets were only available for £220 and upwards.

Neil Hutton, who hoped to buy tickets for his 11-year-old daughter's first concert, shared his frustration: "My wife was in the pre-sale queues on Ticketmaster, Hydro and Sabrina Carpenter’s website and the cheapest tickets were £220 each. The jump in ticket prices in recent years has been astronomical."

Carpenter's tour is just one example of a growing trend of high ticket prices. Other artists performing at the Hydro, including American country star Morgan Wallen and rapper Childish Gambino, have tickets costing well over £100. Billie Eilish fans face a price range of £140 to £400, with the higher price point attributed to a "Changemaker" ticket that contributes a portion of the cost to non-profit causes.

Jill Ledgerwood, a mother of two, highlights the pressure this puts on parents: "I took my daughter to see Taylor Swift when she played the Hydro last time she was in Scotland [in 2015]. While tickets were not cheap they were nothing compared to the recent Eras tour. By the time we got our code the only tickets left were more than £600. Fortunately she is old enough now to totally understand not going, but there must be so much pressure on parents of younger kids who see their friends going and can't understand why they can't go."

Ledgerwood further criticizes the "dynamic pricing" system, which she believes inflates prices. This system adjusts ticket prices based on demand, rather than using a fixed cost.

Music journalist Lisa-Marie Ferla believes the rising cost of concerts will disproportionately affect pop music fans, especially families who need to purchase multiple tickets.

"A lot of the fans of these big pop acts are young girls, so you're not just buying one ticket but at least two," Ferla explained. "With the Sabrina Carpenter one, you've got her and Gracie Abrams playing a night apart at the Hydro next year, and tickets for Gracie went on sale last week. If your kid likes both of those acts, you'll be spending £1000 within a week. I don't see how many ordinary families can afford that. These big gigs are formative experiences, but if every show is £200 it's going to force out emerging music fans."

Ferla acknowledges that high ticket prices might be more justifiable for stadium shows with elaborate productions and longer runtimes, such as Taylor Swift's recent gigs. However, she argues that the high pricing is becoming increasingly commonplace, with fans facing additional pressure due to complex presale systems and limited time windows for purchasing tickets.

As ticket prices continue to climb, some artists are taking a stand. A growing number of acts, from Paul Heaton to Caity Baser, have capped their ticket prices in recent years. This trend highlights the growing awareness of the affordability issues surrounding live music.

The rising cost of concert tickets presents a challenge for both music fans and the industry. While artists and promoters aim to provide memorable experiences, the escalating prices risk alienating a large segment of the audience, potentially impacting the future of live music for generations to come.