2008 Flashback: Top 10 Priciest Concerts

jackson Fri, Jan 30, 2009 at 12:12 PM EST

no- these are ACTUAL prices, these are not resale. resale/ebay etc prices were well into the thousands for madge and elton

Alex Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 09:28 AM EST

Yeah, it was Listen 2 This. I liked those, but then they started not being exclusively about music, (they started to include video games & comic books too) http://carpet-cleaning.emenace.com/carpetclba/7.html dry carpet cleaning undefined

Alex Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 08:58 AM EST

Yeah, it was Listen 2 This. I liked those, but then they started not being exclusively about music, (they started to include video games & comic books too) http://carpet-cleaning.emenace.com/autobiogc4/29.html car carpet red wash undefined

Alex Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 08:24 AM EST

Yeah, it was Listen 2 This. I liked those, but then they started not being exclusively about music, (they started to include video games & comic books too) http://hardwood-floor.emenace.com/brucehar62/26.html shaw flooring undefined

carla marie Sun, Jan 18, 2009 at 06:14 PM EST

and each of the shows was worth each bit of the price. the artists all were true performers doing what they love best

carla marie Sun, Jan 18, 2009 at 06:11 PM EST

i saw four of these concerts this year! #'s 1,5,6,& 9. roughly $1000 in the tickets alone. jeez, to add the souvenir total to that!

ReRe Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 08:06 PM EST

Phil...Phil......Phil......
You read me COMPLETLY WRONG!!!

My Classy Comeback comment was
TOTALLY...Totally a COMPLIMENT to you.

I look forward to your comments.

I read more than I write, so I think I'll go back to reading for awhile.

wendy Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 06:59 PM EST

i paid 45 bucks for front row for pink floyd back in 94 and i'd have gladly paid 10 times that! elton john was 150 in vegas.. again...VERY worth the price. it all comes down to personal preference and what your wallet can handle at the time. ANY concert is worth it if you like the performer enough. bette midler in vegas, here i come!!!

pthomas Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 02:47 PM EST

I must agree with many of the comments posted. I saw the Police for $50. Who in thier right mind paid these prices - people who were too lazy to buy the tickets when they went on sale. Wouldn't this be informative if it priced the actual ticket prices!? I will say that the regular price for AC/DC was too high.

Rambo Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 02:05 AM EST

What artists charge and what the resale prices are are two completely different things. This column makes no sense. What is the point of it?

Phil Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 02:03 AM EST

ReRe, I don't care for your sarcastic tone. i didn't even need to dignify myself with a repsonse cause I've been a Popwatch commentor for years, and many of the regulars know me to be honest and usually quite on point when it comes to music news, cause AGAIN, I'm also in the media. I am also known to Give Simon V. a VERY hard time, for trying usually overly expressing his love of hip-hop. I don't need to justify myself to anyone. I am glad that EW has hired staff to cover the ever-expanding hip-hop & R&B genres, but as per many people complaining about Margeaux's Mix blog title, its because its a musical blog, it should encompass a disversification. EW is a National magazine, its not a subsidiary of VIBE or XXL. If polled many of the fans that are supporting the hip-hop blogs are no doubt hip-hop fans, but you have to see the bigger picture. EW is NOT a lifestyle magazine selling the hip-hop culture. It is an overall ENERTAINMENT magazine which should cover ALL genres of music equally.

Jen Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 02:02 AM EST

Who is this idiotic Margeaux woman and why does EW give her space that could be given to someone qualified?

ReRe Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 07:48 PM EST

Classy Comeback Phil....

Blue Silver Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 05:11 PM EST

....oh an btw, this was the actual Ticketmaster price.

Blue Silver Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 05:09 PM EST

Duran Duran's "Red Carpet Massacre" concert this past December '08 rocked. At $85 to be about 4 or 5 feet away from bassist John Taylor and back up singer Anna Ross was awesome. Best show of the year!!

TW Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 05:04 PM EST

I don't quite get the point of basing this list upon "average re-sale ticket price," which has little to do with the artist or promoter. Savvy fans know when tickets go onsale and purchase through the authorized vendor like Ticketmaster or LiveNation at face value plus nominal service charges.

Dwayne Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 04:22 PM EST

If Phil is in Philly then I have to move. LOL

Phil Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 03:26 PM EST

Margeaux if you're ever in Philly soon, I'd love to buy you a drink!

Phil Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 03:25 PM EST

To all the people thinking I'm hating...I work in the media too. I gte free promo tickets from record labels ALL the time. I like hip-hop & R&B as much as I enjoy pop/rock & alternative artists, & in some cases I enjoy hip-hop even more. I am a 30 yr. old white gay guy (who's NOT flamboyant or expressive). I just think as a fellow member of the media Margeaux tends to come off as a typcial African-American writer, and I wish she would switch up slightly some, and if you notcie from her END OF YEAR blogs, I'm NOT the only person thinking it. many people were actually asking EW to FIRE her, which I think is absurd. But if they are going to have talk back comments, i wish she would try & listen to her fans, even the bitter ones. I think she is an awesome blogger, i just wish she'd switch up her pace a bit more often. And I AGREE with her on many musicals tastes & artists too. I wish her nothing but more success in 2009 for Margeaux's Mix.

Peep Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 02:51 PM EST

Unless Elvis joins up with Joplin and Hendrix to tour the east coast, I can't see myself paying three hundred bucks to see anyone in concert.
Perhaps for those with a little more casual cashflow at their expense, it's no big deal. But for most "average Joes" living paycheck-to-paycheck, that's a lot to ask.

M Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 02:26 PM EST

Madonna is the only artist that I paid (and would pay again) big bucks to see. I see about 20 concerts a year in different price ranges and her show is always the highight of the year.

rockmom Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 02:15 PM EST

So we're all in agreement that the prices quoted in the article are Ticketmaster RESALE prices. What is the point of telling us that price? If you're trying to do an article on the most expensive concerts in 2008, why not base it on the ACTUAL ticket price? Maybe you wouldn't have had a story otherwise..? Doesn't make any sense to me.

Preston Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 02:06 PM EST

When you think about it, these artists go to all expense to give their fans a good show. Especially the extravagant stages, lighting, big production,lights, rigging and massive stages. Even Tina Turner's concert was pricey. Same with Madonna, Elton John, AC/DC, The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, Celine Dion and others. But these artists have been around 10, 20, 25, 30 or 40 years and they can be able to charge that much for their shows with the huge array of music that they have to perform for audiences.

Warren Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 01:58 PM EST

If you read the article, it says, "...average re-sale ticket price from Ticketmaster Entertainment." Which means someone bought them, and then resold through a (now) legal scalper like Ticketmaster's own "Ticket Exchange" or some other website.

Stinks on ice.

I saw The Police and Springsteen. Paid face value for the seats. Well, that and the huge Ticketmaster "Service Charges."

Roger Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 12:51 PM EST

Yeah, those prices seem kinda high as an average. I saw Springsteen, Celine, Coldplay and the Police from that list and payed nowhere near those prices for good seats (lower bowl of the arena, not upper). Where are these figures coming from?

Shaun Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 11:27 AM EST

NO ONE is worth the kind of money that's being listed here, but I too would like to know where Ticketmaster (and the author) got the numbers from. Springsteen has gotten ridiculously overpriced (considering his shows are shorter than they used to be, what with getting older and all), but he's never charged anything near what's being listed here. Apart from Obama benefit he did with Billy Joel last year, perhaps.

And I saw The Police last year, against my better judgement. My wife really wanted to go, and I kind of wanted to see them, so we took the plunge. We paid a little over $100 a piece for what were pretty good seats. So I don't think their "average" price was $216. That's about what we paid for the two tickets, total. The people up on the lawn certainly didn't pay that much either. Even so, I will never pay that kind of money again for a concert... Once was enough for that kind of greed.

Martin Haro Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 10:57 AM EST

I saw Madonna and Coldplay (and MJB and Jay-Z in the spring, and MJB and Robin Thicke in the fall).
I didn't pay top dolla for M-dolla (actually, I bought a $95 ticket on the day of the Miami concert and had quite literally the last ticket all the way up against the wall that I could possibly get, on the side - still LOVEd it, though).
For Coldplay we paid somewhere in the $100-$125 range in Fort Lauderdale - and ended up one section over from where they held court of "The Scientist" at the opposite end of the stage.
The first time I saw MJB, I was up on the side. I enjoyed it. But the second time, my tickets were cheaper and way better (seventh row center on the floor, behinf Fat Joe) - and I got to see Robin Thicke.
I never would've paid to see her, but I saw Mariah Carey perform 10 songs at the reopening of the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. And Rufus Wainwright was well worth my 80 bucks.
I caught Ashlee Simpson for free at Mansion. It was fun.
http://moviemartin.blogspot.com

c Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 10:14 AM EST

To Dan in STL -
you are absolutely right. Springsteen has never charged anything like $235/ticket for a concert that wasn't a special charity event or benefit. Margeaux, plesae check your information.

blink Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 10:13 AM EST

I paid $350 for front row for Madonna in Miami, and I have to say her show was AMAZING! Non Stop dancing for 2 hours. Really fun. I heard the DVD for her concert comes out March 2009. Can't wait to see it over and over again. :) I also saw Celine Dion, her show was great too.

c Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 10:10 AM EST

Don't know where that Springsteen figure came from, but he makes most of tickets available for affordable prices. I saw him at the Meadowlands this summer and the total for 2 tickets (with fees and taxes) was $220 and change. and we had AMAZING floor seats for a show that lasted almost 4 hours. Springsteen shows are wonderful and you get your money's worth. Definitely worth every penny.

Dwayne Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 09:49 AM EST

Margeaux is shedding light on ALL music not just pop music and old washed up has-beens who have been on tour for years and have no currect relevance music. EW has long been lacking in the area of focusing on R&B and Hip Hop, which are the dominant forces in setting trends in music. No one jumps on Steven King's annual list and badmouths him for his suspect taste in music.

Q Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 01:43 AM EST

I saw Radiohead for $30. Twas amazing.

JD Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 12:14 AM EST

I'd like to know who was paying more than $350/ticket to see Madonna because that was the value of my seventh row seats in Houston--face value.

Oh, yes, WORTH EVERY PENNY!

curt Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 12:02 AM EST

I saw Madonna in Chicago & she was fantastic. I didn't mind paying big bucks for her show. She seemed to really enjoy it (in the past, she has seemed disconnected). Also, she didn't play any "slow" songs which often bring her shows to a screaching halt. That helped alot. Good job Madge!

Jon Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 11:09 PM EST

I saw Chris Brown and Rihanna for less than $70 in Manila. Very good price. That was the second most expensive price for their concert.

Steve Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 10:45 PM EST

I saw Madonna in Miami for $100 but I would have gladly paid $300 if I could have gotten front row and sit next to Arod!! She had Pharrel AND Timbaland make an apperance, plus Madonna jump roping and singing across the stage at 50 was SOOOOooo worth it! AWESOME CONCERT!

ReRe Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 10:37 PM EST

Phil, look through Margeaux's Mix archive. She has been very diverse in the artist and types of music.

Don't hate!
Learn to... agree to disagree.

Emily Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 10:36 PM EST

I saw both Springsteen and Elton John for about $100 each.

ReRe Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 10:20 PM EST

Margeaux, I love reading your blogs.
I never know what's new for today.

I am glad that you're blog is not predictable.

I have noticed that that white artist
receive more comments.

Some of the black artist receive no comments.

Phil,
look through Margeaux's Mix archive, she have been more diverse than other writers at EW.

I enjoy reading different opinions from Margeaux and the bloggers...
I don't like the the haters.
Agree to disagree.

Houstonian Jen in DC Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 09:29 PM EST

PHIL said: "Either way, you're not showing any kind of diversification to say the least."

Phil, with all due respect, before Margeaux came to the EW, there was hardly any coverage of R&B and Hip-Hop. Trust me, as fans of EW and of those genres, I noticed. I don't see a problem with her sticking to know what she knows best---much like the other music writers at EW do. It's no different than other major publication that has writers specifically dedicated to a certain genre: country, classical, rock, Hip-hop, world music. I don't know why this is such a foreign concept. There are plenty of other writers talking about Coldplay and everyone else you want to hear about around here.

And by the way, look at the blog posting. It's clear that Ticketmaster is talking about re-sale tickets to the shows, not face value.

ladyli1 Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 09:28 PM EST

O.K., here we go, again. Margeaux, I find fault with your column. You did not state if the tix prices are averaged from after-market sales or box-office. Then you do not state the price you paid for you tixs. Come on now!

Laura Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 08:35 PM EST

I saw Coldplay for $97 a ticket! (Twice actually) And it was an amazing concert. As long as you buy the ticket when they go on sale, you won't pay those ridiculous prices.

Beate Geibel Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 08:12 PM EST

I wouldnt pay this amount of money for any band, except Depeche Mode. But those guys are still reasonable and want to keep it that way.
One more reason to love them since 25 years. Cant wait for the new album and the tour !

Shaun Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 08:05 PM EST

I saw Tina Turner twice in one week and it was worth every penny. She was on FIRE!!! Who would believe she is 69 years old? Her show was amazing from start to finish. She really is the Queen.

Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 07:47 PM EST

madonna was great!!!! I saw it in Brazil!!

Annie Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 06:44 PM EST

I saw Fergie in Palm Springs in October 08. The tickets were 150.00 for floor seats and the show lasted about an hour!! Not worth it, in my opinion!!

Stephen Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 05:30 PM EST

I'd pay any dollar amount to see Bette Midler in Vegas!

Sarah Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 04:52 PM EST

I saw Celine in Minneapolis (which was rescheduled twice) and she was amazing. Well worth it I thought. She sounded great and she also knows the value of a good stage show.

OHS Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 04:52 PM EST

Saw NKOTB and they were worth it!

callie Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 04:22 PM EST

I think it should be illegal for ticket brokers (or scalpers) to buy tickets in massive bulk and then resale them. I would love to see Coldplay but, as a grad student trying to stay out of debt, I knew I couldn't afford it. In retrospect, that was for the best. I think when ticket prices raise to 300 or 400 dollars, it becomes all about greed and entertainment and not about art. Instead of seeing Coldplay, I saw The Swell Season (for $50) and it was, by far, one of the best concerts I've ever seen. Glen Hansard seemed down to earth and funny. The musicians were incredible. The whole night was great. If nothing else, maybe overpriced concerts will encourage people to take in smaller (more affordable) acts who are usually more talented anyway. I would rather support artists who still love making good art than further inflate the egos of some performers.

ks Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 04:22 PM EST

I am with you Rachel-seen LOTS of concerts and in many different venues, these prices are not worth it. I have even seen concerts in Alaska, where the band makes no money due to travel and have not paid these prices!

Dan in STL Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 03:28 PM EST

I suspect that some of the information on this list comes from ticket brokers who buy premium tickets at the advertised cost and then resell them at a considerably higher price. As I said earlier, Bruce Springsteen has never charged anywhere close to $235, and someone else pointed out that the AC/DC prices are wrong. So while we can all agree that concertss cost way too much, let's at least use accurate information to make that point.

Peter B Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 03:13 PM EST

I understand the realities of life and that certain things cost certain prices. But it is ridiculous how expensive ticket prices are. The prices listed above probably do not include "service" charges if the tickets are purchased through an online site like Ticketmaster (I used quotation marks because there really is very little service involved other than a cheaper means nowadays to print your own tickets). For an artist who already makes a lot of money to charge his/her/their fans a lot of money to see him/her/them in concert is almost unconscionable. I didn't see any of the 10 priciest concerts...and don't feel like I missed much (financially and otherwise).

rockmom Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 03:03 PM EST

You are oh-so-wrong on the AC/DC ticket price. I just saw them in Tacoma and every seat was $89. From what I have seen online, their ticket prices for every U.S. venue are right around the $90 range. Maybe after Ticketmaster adds all of its extortionist fees onto the $89 you are paying $263 per ticket. But seriously, I would have paid $300 per ticket to see AC/DC, they were PHENOMENAL. It was the show of the year, if not the show of the decade.

Phil Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 03:03 PM EST

Margeuax, WHY DO YOU KEEP DIGGING YOURSELF further into that grave girl!? Why mention you've seen NONE of these shows when they are not just the most over priced tours, but also some of the most popular concerts of the year but then throw in that you definitely didn't miss MJB and Jigga at Madison Square Garden!? Did you even read the comments from the posters in regards to you favoring R&B & hip-hop over OTHER musical genres this past week?! And I'm not hating, i went to Madonna, and paid $375 plus taxes for my ticket on the floor, and yeah she is getting a bit over-priced but I also got tickets to ColdPlay for FREE. Margeaux, if you're a reporter how do you not have connections at labels to get free tickets to shows they want you to review, or do you AGAIN just take the tickets to R&B and hip-hop shows? Either way, you're not showing any kind of diversification to say the least.

Dan in STL Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 03:00 PM EST

I don't get this list. I saw Springsteen twice this year in different parts of the country, and the highest ticket price was $95. Unless it is for a benefit, he has never charged anything close to $235. Is this from buying tickets on the secondary market (ie, from scalpers)? If so, it's hardly fair to suggest that the performers charged this much. I agree that even $95 is expensive, but let's not exaggerate or give faulty information.

Twist Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 02:58 PM EST

Madonna is always worth it!

jaime Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 02:48 PM EST

Yeah i paid $200 to watch Madonna in Houston (she was 2hrs late) and um well it was alright! I just wanted to see her in my lifetime...cus I love her! So ive had my fix

I cant wait for Kelly Clarkson to go on tour again! Ive seen every time shes been here in Houston!!! She is amazing and actually sings her music!!

dwc Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 02:43 PM EST

Doesn't the fact that you didn't bother to see any of these concerts last year mean that you are not qualified to write a music blog?

chris Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 02:42 PM EST

I paid over $100 a ticket to see Elton John in Vegas and it was worth it. He put on a fantastic show!

Dan Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 02:30 PM EST

I agree - ticket prices are way overpriced now. If I am going to go hear live music now I go to smaller shows or classical and skip the big rock/pop names. It just isn't worth it. If good tix for the symphony are cheaper (which has to pay for MANY extremely talented musicians each concert) I would rather see big names in that way (different big names, it's true, but still exciting).

bdk Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 02:24 PM EST

clearly these artists have not heard of a little something called an economic downturn.

Geoff Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 02:18 PM EST

I paid $900 for 4 tickets to see Madonna (my partner, two friends and myself). Each tour I swear it's the last time I'll pay that much, but low-and-behold, there I am, paying more each year. I'm a glutton, but at least I can say the credit card balance was paid in full. (and it was a really fun night)

Winona Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 02:07 PM EST

I paid $30 for Hanson, $35 for Indigo Girls and $45 for NKOTB. I will NOT go over $100 for any concert ticket unless it's Paul McCartney (which I have been known to pay $400 - but that was only one time, I swear).

Rachel Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 02:07 PM EST

I am in my 40's & have been to over 100 concerts, mainly rock & now I rarely go to any cause of the cost! Who but celebrities can afford these concerts????

Jason Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 02:06 PM EST

No concert is worth $300.