Michael Rapino Says “Concert Tickets Aren’t Expensive Enough."

Michael Rapino Says “Concert Tickets Aren’t Expensive Enough."

Let’s talk about it.

He points out that people spend far more on sports- so why not concerts?
It’s a fair comparison on paper. But music has never been just entertainment.
It’s emotional. Communal. Soul-level.
It’s about connection, not consumption.

And yes- touring is more expensive than ever.
Trucks, fuel, labor, insurance, freight, gear… every line item has gone up.
Margins are thinner. Artists are spending more to put on the same show.

But saying tickets “aren’t expensive enough” misses the heart of it.
Fans aren’t the problem.
They’re the reason this whole ecosystem exists.

Raising prices might balance the books, but if it kills accessibility, we lose something far bigger than profit- we lose connection.

What's actually true:
Touring costs have skyrocketed.
Artists, vendors, and crews are all feeling the squeeze.
Fans are too- and they’re not wrong to notice.
There’s no simple answer.
But maybe it’s not about charging more.
Maybe it’s about operating smarter.

That means:
Designing productions that are efficient, not excessive.
Investing in long-term crew retention and fair pay.
Planning tours that balance sustainability with spectacle.
Being transparent about where the money goes.
When fans feel their ticket supports people- not just profits- they stay loyal.

Live music isn’t a luxury product.
It’s a shared experience.
And the whole point… is that people can actually be there.

What do you think? Are tickets underpriced, overpriced, or just misaligned with how value is being communicated?