Live Nation’s CEO thinks concerts are still ‘underpriced’ — but with ticket prices up 32% in the last 5 years, are fans singing a different tune?

Ticket prices have soared in recent years. Add in the usual fees and the final cost can feel astronomical. Still, some argue concerts remain a bargain compared to sporting events. Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino recently told CNBC that concerts are still underpriced [1].

“In sports, I joke it’s like a badge of honor to spend [$70,000] for Knicks courtside,” Rapino said at the CNBC Sport and Boardroom’s Game Plan conference in September. “When you read about the ticket prices going up, it’s still an average concert price [of] $72. Try going to a Laker game for that, and there’s 80 of them [in a season].”

Even if concerts are cheaper than most sporting events, that doesn’t mean they’re affordable. And it’s important to avoid messing up your finances just to see your favorite bands.

Concert ticket prices are flying high again

In August, admission to movies, theaters and concerts was up 3.4% year over year, according to the Consumer Price Index. Admission to sporting events actually declined by 0.5% [2].

Pollstar reported the average concert ticket price was $135.92 by the end of 2024 [3]. Remitly, meanwhile, put the average cost of a football ticket at $297 as of March 2024 [4]. A basketball game averaged $165, and a hockey game equaled $146. Baseball was the outlier at $79.

A Coupon Cabin survey published in January 2025 found that 90% of Americans believe concert tickets are overpriced [5]. Even so, people still went to an average of seven concerts in 2024. Last year, 32% of respondents spent between $100 and $499 on tickets, at a time when the cost of living was up across the board [5].

And it's not just the tickets. Many are willing to spend even more to travel for live music. A 2024 study by Bread Financial found that 37% of Gen Zers and 39% of millennials spent between $500 and $5,000 or more on live events requiring travel [6].

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts median weekly U.S. earnings at $1,196 during the second quarter of 2025 [7]. That amounts to $62,192 annually, or roughly $5,183 per month.

With concert tickets averaging $135.92, a pair of seats can eat up more than 5% of the median monthly wage. That’s a lot of money to spend on a few hours of entertainment.

No more tears over tickets, debt

There's nothing wrong with splurging on a concert here and there if it makes you happy, especially if your favorite band is in town. But it’s important not to take on debt for the experience.

Billboard reports concert ticket prices have risen more than 32% over the past five years. And fans are at risk of debt because of it [8].

More than half of Gen Zers say they've used buy now, pay later agreements to pay for tickets and related expenses like travel, according to Cash App data [9]. And 75% said they’re willing to pay premium resale prices.

But 19% of Gen Zers admitted spending beyond their means to attend concerts. That can create real financial hardship. If you go into debt for a concert, interest charges could push the final cost of those tickets far beyond face value.

Charging tickets to a credit card can also damage your credit score. If you miss your minimum monthly payments, late fees will hurt your score. And if your balance climbs too high compared with your credit limit, that too could bring down your score.

If you love live music, one way to keep your costs down is to attend local bands' performances in your area at smaller venues. You might discover the next breakout act. You can also try buying tickets directly from the venue instead of through services like Ticketmaster, which tack on service fees.

And if you’re stretching your budget to see a concert, save on extras. Eat at home before heading out — concert food and drinks are notoriously overpriced and are rarely worth it. By cutting costs elsewhere, you can enjoy the music without feeling the financial sting afterward.

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[1]. CNBC. “Live Nation CEO touts soaring demand, says concert tickets are still relatively underpriced”

[2]. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U. S. city average, by detailed expenditure category”

[3]. Pollstar. “Pollstar 2024 Year End Analysis: Industry Remains Strong & Steady, Taylor Swift & Coldplay Set All-Time Touring Records”