Latest / Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift
Blue Dot Fever: Why Concert Tickets Are Priced for a Market That No Longer Exists
Blue dot fever is the new term for half-empty arenas and cancelled concerts. The data behind it is specific and the team has the numbers.
Concert ticket prices for the top 100 global tours went up 37.2 percent between 2019 and 2025. Inflation over the same period was 21 percent. The prices never came back down after the post-pandemic surge. Post Malone, Kid Cudi, the Pussycat Dolls, and Meghan Trainor have all played to rooms loaded with unsold seats. The cheapest available tickets at some shows are still $80.
The small venue is the counterpoint. Under 1,000 people, $30 to $80 a ticket, merch…
The skinny
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