I think PJ is reasonably priced, in comparison to the market for A level acts. The band also delivers a huge bang for the buck with most shows coming in between 2:30-3;00. I couldn’t imagine making per year what I do now, even 15 years ago. I would have said don’t be ridiculous.All thing equal, I think the value per dollar / money made per hour ratio is pretty equal now to what is was 25 years ago
Looking forward to when this tour lottery stuff dies down, and people go back to posting this crap on Facebook.
6/29/98 Chicago-United Center
6/18/03 Chicago-United Center
5/17/06 Chicago-United Center
7/19/13 Chicago-Wrigley Field
10/11/13 Pittsburgh-Consol Energy Center
10/17/14 Moline-IWireless Center (No Code)
10/20/14 Milwaukee-Bradley center (Yield)
4/26/16 Lexington-Rupp Arena
8/20/16 Chicago-Wrigley Field
8/22/16 Chicago-Wrigley Field 8/18/18 Chicago-Wrigley Field 8/20/18 Chicago-Wrigley Field 9/5/23 Chicago-United Center 9/7/23 Chicago-United Center
Inflation at 3% basically doubles the price from 1995 just as a start. Then you factor in how many people PJ employs and their salaries and benefits, rising expenses from bigger venues charging more, travel expenses, and their right to actually make a healthy profit. After that you've got (in my opinion only of course), a very reasonably priced concert ticket. It is also my opinion that the extra $20 (or whatever it is) in TM fees is a fair price to pay for the extra TC seats getting in the hands of real people regardless of whether I get one, the ease and comfort of fan to fan sale (assuming), and the single tickets. A healthy benefit to the masses, but perhaps not to a few individuals.
I wouldn't necessarily call it entitlement by the fan base. I understand exactly where they are coming from. All anyone wants is to go see something they care a lot about, and not have it be stressful or financially draining. That being said, I do believe that some people need to reframe their minds and expectations, and take a few deep breaths.
They have huge operating costs to run a tour and on top of that, they're entitled to make some money off of the art they make that we enjoy so much. And if they didn't, they'd have little incentive to do it again.
They have huge operating costs to run a tour and on top of that, they're entitled to make some money off of the art they make that we enjoy so much. And if they didn't, they'd have little incentive to do it again.
"some money"
"Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
My friend was raging against this price on Saturday night. He actually proved me wrong on one account when I swore tickets to Philly 2016 were over $100, but they were actually $86. So forget 1995, the tickets went up $36 from a 2016 arena show to a 2020 one.
But what’s $36 right?
It's what arena shows cost now. I'll pay it for Pearl Jam, but I've been priced out of most bigger shows at this point. Have to make these decisions as a consumer.
That is everybody’s right
It sucks what concerts cost these days but since the late 90s the younger generations thought they were being brilliant by pirating music.
the net sum effect of this wide scale theft is it significantly devalued the cost of recorded music
The artists did not do this, the younger generations changed a marketplace that had existed for decades.
these are facts, not opinion, not lamenting.
so in the wake of this devalued market, WTF are musicians to do, give people free or cheap shows?
FFS, PJ is one of the cheapest concert tickets from a premium artist.
FFS they are selling next to the stage access for $98
do fans Not want ticket fees now? So they want the process of running the lotteries and distributing the tickets for free?
the level of entitlement in the fan base can be disgusting.
On all of this, we agree. I see plenty of great shows for under $30. There are excellent bands playing 500-2000 person rooms every night. If all of one's favorite bands have been around 20+ years, chances are you have to do a lot of ponying up.
My friend was raging against this price on Saturday night. He actually proved me wrong on one account when I swore tickets to Philly 2016 were over $100, but they were actually $86. So forget 1995, the tickets went up $36 from a 2016 arena show to a 2020 one.
But what’s $36 right?
It's what arena shows cost now. I'll pay it for Pearl Jam, but I've been priced out of most bigger shows at this point. Have to make these decisions as a consumer.
That is everybody’s right
It sucks what concerts cost these days but since the late 90s the younger generations thought they were being brilliant by pirating music.
the net sum effect of this wide scale theft is it significantly devalued the cost of recorded music
The artists did not do this, the younger generations changed a marketplace that had existed for decades.
these are facts, not opinion, not lamenting.
so in the wake of this devalued market, WTF are musicians to do, give people free or cheap shows?
FFS, PJ is one of the cheapest concert tickets from a premium artist.
FFS they are selling next to the stage access for $98
do fans Not want ticket fees now? So they want the process of running the lotteries and distributing the tickets for free?
the level of entitlement in the fan base can be disgusting.
On all of this, we agree. I see plenty of great shows for under $30. There are excellent bands playing 500-2000 person rooms every night. If all of one's favorite bands have been around 20+ years, chances are you have to do a lot of ponying up.
this is not just to be blamed on younger generations, there were plenty of boomers and gen x (my faux label) that enabled this behavior, see Jobs, Steve and his devices, and others assisted in this race to the bottom.
They have huge operating costs to run a tour and on top of that, they're entitled to make some money off of the art they make that we enjoy so much. And if they didn't, they'd have little incentive to do it again.
"some money"
You don't think Pearl Jam deserves the money they make?
My friend was raging against this price on Saturday night. He actually proved me wrong on one account when I swore tickets to Philly 2016 were over $100, but they were actually $86. So forget 1995, the tickets went up $36 from a 2016 arena show to a 2020 one.
But what’s $36 right?
It's what arena shows cost now. I'll pay it for Pearl Jam, but I've been priced out of most bigger shows at this point. Have to make these decisions as a consumer.
That is everybody’s right
It sucks what concerts cost these days but since the late 90s the younger generations thought they were being brilliant by pirating music.
the net sum effect of this wide scale theft is it significantly devalued the cost of recorded music
The artists did not do this, the younger generations changed a marketplace that had existed for decades.
these are facts, not opinion, not lamenting.
so in the wake of this devalued market, WTF are musicians to do, give people free or cheap shows?
FFS, PJ is one of the cheapest concert tickets from a premium artist.
FFS they are selling next to the stage access for $98
do fans Not want ticket fees now? So they want the process of running the lotteries and distributing the tickets for free?
the level of entitlement in the fan base can be disgusting.
On all of this, we agree. I see plenty of great shows for under $30. There are excellent bands playing 500-2000 person rooms every night. If all of one's favorite bands have been around 20+ years, chances are you have to do a lot of ponying up.
this is not just to be blamed on younger generations, there were plenty of boomers and gen x (my faux label) that enabled this behavior, see Jobs, Steve and his devices, and others assisted in this race to the bottom.
Oh, yeah, maybe I need an asterisk on that point. I have no feelings about laying that on any generation. It's just how recorded music is consumed now.
My friend was raging against this price on Saturday night. He actually proved me wrong on one account when I swore tickets to Philly 2016 were over $100, but they were actually $86. So forget 1995, the tickets went up $36 from a 2016 arena show to a 2020 one.
But what’s $36 right?
It's what arena shows cost now. I'll pay it for Pearl Jam, but I've been priced out of most bigger shows at this point. Have to make these decisions as a consumer.
That is everybody’s right
It sucks what concerts cost these days but since the late 90s the younger generations thought they were being brilliant by pirating music.
the net sum effect of this wide scale theft is it significantly devalued the cost of recorded music
The artists did not do this, the younger generations changed a marketplace that had existed for decades.
these are facts, not opinion, not lamenting.
so in the wake of this devalued market, WTF are musicians to do, give people free or cheap shows?
FFS, PJ is one of the cheapest concert tickets from a premium artist.
FFS they are selling next to the stage access for $98
do fans Not want ticket fees now? So they want the process of running the lotteries and distributing the tickets for free?
the level of entitlement in the fan base can be disgusting.
On all of this, we agree. I see plenty of great shows for under $30. There are excellent bands playing 500-2000 person rooms every night. If all of one's favorite bands have been around 20+ years, chances are you have to do a lot of ponying up.
this is not just to be blamed on younger generations, there were plenty of boomers and gen x (my faux label) that enabled this behavior, see Jobs, Steve and his devices, and others assisted in this race to the bottom.
Oh, yeah, maybe I need an asterisk on that point. I have no feelings about laying that on any generation. It's just how recorded music is consumed now.
Completely. I was more just saying it takes a village to burn it down generally.
They have huge operating costs to run a tour and on top of that, they're entitled to make some money off of the art they make that we enjoy so much. And if they didn't, they'd have little incentive to do it again.
"some money"
You don't think Pearl Jam deserves the money they make?
Depends on how much they make, in the context of how much they charge.
"Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
They have huge operating costs to run a tour and on top of that, they're entitled to make some money off of the art they make that we enjoy so much. And if they didn't, they'd have little incentive to do it again.
"some money"
You don't think Pearl Jam deserves the money they make?
Depends on how much they make, in the context of how much they charge.
I don't disagree, but I don't see anybody being greedy here. As these tickets are lower than market value, that difference comes out of Pearl Jam's cut. Operating and facilities costs are what they are.
They have huge operating costs to run a tour and on top of that, they're entitled to make some money off of the art they make that we enjoy so much. And if they didn't, they'd have little incentive to do it again.
"some money"
You don't think Pearl Jam deserves the money they make?
Depends on how much they make, in the context of how much they charge.
I don't disagree, but I don't see anybody being greedy here. As these tickets are lower than market value, that difference comes out of Pearl Jam's cut. Operating and facilities costs are what they are.
Yeah, I don't feel like the guys in PJ are soaking fans for every last penny so they can live the lifestyle of the rich an famous. Are they making an extremely good living. Absolutely. I assume they are all multi millionaires, but I also think they could have made significantly more if that were of utmost importance to them. And they are very philanthropical on top of things. For a Kiss fan (Spiritual Chaos) to question if PJ makes too much money is fairly laughable.
They have huge operating costs to run a tour and on top of that, they're entitled to make some money off of the art they make that we enjoy so much. And if they didn't, they'd have little incentive to do it again.
"some money"
You don't think Pearl Jam deserves the money they make?
Depends on how much they make, in the context of how much they charge.
I don't disagree, but I don't see anybody being greedy here. As these tickets are lower than market value, that difference comes out of Pearl Jam's cut. Operating and facilities costs are what they are.
Yeah, I don't feel like the guys in PJ are soaking fans for every last penny so they can live the lifestyle of the rich an famous. Are they making an extremely good living. Absolutely. I assume they are all multi millionaires, but I also think they could have made significantly more if that were of utmost importance to them. And they are very philanthropical on top of things. For a Kiss fan (Spiritual Chaos) to question if PJ makes too much money is fairly laughable.
Now I've certainly always been one to scoff and laugh at all the ridiculous "whatever happened to the band that fought ticketmaster and used to stand for something" threads that have appeared here thoughout the years. However... I will say Pearl Jam has just about priced me out of seeing them live and this might be my last show.
2013 10C tickets to Pittsburgh - $147
2016 10C tickets to Hampton - $159
$12 rise in price - for a pair of tickets - in 3 years passing
2020 10C tickets to Baltimore - $254
$95 rise in price - for a pair of tickets - in 4 years passing
Is Pearl Jam cheaper than Elton John, Britney Spears, Madonna, BIllie Eilish? Sure. But this is cause for concern.
Why are so many of us stuck in a 25 year vacuum? As I said in another thread, if you are so obsessed with staying in 1995 forever, save your ticket money and your membership fees and put them towards saving up for a time machine. It seems like a more realistic endeavor.
For the remainder who haven't completely lost their sense of reason, I look forward to seeing you out on tour.
1993 - Toronto 1996 - Toronto 1998 - Barrie 2000 - Toronto 2003 - Buffalo, Toronto 2005 - Hamilton, Toronto 2006 - Toronto I, Toronto II 2008 - EV solo Toronto I 2010 - Buffalo, Newark 2011 - Toronto I, Toronto II, Hamilton 2013 - London, Chicago, Buffalo, Brooklyn I, Brooklyn II, Philadelphia I, Philadelphia II 2014 - Detroit 2016 - Philadelphia I, Philadelphia II, New York I, New York II, Ottawa, Toronto I, Toronto II, Chicago I, Chicago II 2018 - Boston I, Boston II
I agree with the comments above. You don't make money on albums anymore. Live shows is the one thing bands can do that can't be easily replicated.
I take solace in the fact that PJ's tickets are cheaper than most other 25 year+ veteran arena/stadium sized bands. I paid $250 for decent GNR seats a few years ago, $400 for the Stones last summer. I skipped Metallica's last tour because it was $200+. Those are things I'm not going to go to very often. At least with PJ the prices aren't that insane, and it means I can go to a few shows.
I will say that when I was younger it was well known that veteran acts charged more for their shows. When PJ was playing in the 90s, their core fanbase wasn't that old. They didn't have the incomes to support higher ticket prices. While this is still the case for some people in 2020, I would say most of us make better income than we did 20 years ago. For me paying $60usd or whatever it was for a Binaural Tour tickets in 2000 hurt the pocket more in 2000, than $125 tickets do in 2020. At the same time a PJ ticket was $50 or $60usd (in 2000) I remember paying $129usd to see The Who. I know we were all very aware the Stones charged a lot back then for tickets (compared to newer artists).
I do wonder how this all impacts newer artists. Part of the reason PJ's shows are amazing is because of their catalog. They put out a fair amount of music in their first 10 years. It allowed them to have loads of songs to mix up sets, play longer sets, have that many more great songs to include in the sets. The albums helped to lead to amazing shows. If no one buys albums anymore, and streaming doesn't pay much, new artists need the live shows. If they don't focus on albums and making music, how do they get to the point the live shows are amazing? Seems to create a chicken/egg kind of problem.
Comments
6/18/03 Chicago-United Center
5/17/06 Chicago-United Center
7/19/13 Chicago-Wrigley Field
10/11/13 Pittsburgh-Consol Energy Center
10/17/14 Moline-IWireless Center (No Code)
10/20/14 Milwaukee-Bradley center (Yield)
4/26/16 Lexington-Rupp Arena
8/20/16 Chicago-Wrigley Field
8/22/16 Chicago-Wrigley Field
8/18/18 Chicago-Wrigley Field
8/20/18 Chicago-Wrigley Field
9/5/23 Chicago-United Center
9/7/23 Chicago-United Center
I wouldn't necessarily call it entitlement by the fan base. I understand exactly where they are coming from. All anyone wants is to go see something they care a lot about, and not have it be stressful or financially draining. That being said, I do believe that some people need to reframe their minds and expectations, and take a few deep breaths.
They have huge operating costs to run a tour and on top of that, they're entitled to make some money off of the art they make that we enjoy so much. And if they didn't, they'd have little incentive to do it again.
http://www.hi5sports.org/ (Sports Program for Kids with Disabilities)
http://www.livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=3652
2006-East Rutherford
2008-West Palm Beach
2009- Philadelphia
2016- Fort Lauderdale and Miami
http://www.hi5sports.org/ (Sports Program for Kids with Disabilities)
http://www.livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=3652
"...I changed by not changing at all..."
If some had told you in 1995 how the next 25 years were going to go for the music industry, than it wouldn't have been hard to imagine at all.
You should be grateful they aren't charging more.
For a Kiss fan (Spiritual Chaos) to question if PJ makes too much money is fairly laughable.
Our fan base is out of control.
This has an opening ticket price of $97....
https://twitter.com/DitzMcGeee/status/1218427787410837504
Why are so many of us stuck in a 25 year vacuum? As I said in another thread, if you are so obsessed with staying in 1995 forever, save your ticket money and your membership fees and put them towards saving up for a time machine. It seems like a more realistic endeavor.
For the remainder who haven't completely lost their sense of reason, I look forward to seeing you out on tour.
1996 - Toronto
1998 - Barrie
2000 - Toronto
2003 - Buffalo, Toronto
2005 - Hamilton, Toronto
2006 - Toronto I, Toronto II
2008 - EV solo Toronto I
2010 - Buffalo, Newark
2011 - Toronto I, Toronto II, Hamilton
2013 - London, Chicago, Buffalo, Brooklyn I, Brooklyn II, Philadelphia I, Philadelphia II
2014 - Detroit
2016 - Philadelphia I, Philadelphia II, New York I, New York II, Ottawa, Toronto I, Toronto II, Chicago I, Chicago II
2018 - Boston I, Boston II
I take solace in the fact that PJ's tickets are cheaper than most other 25 year+ veteran arena/stadium sized bands. I paid $250 for decent GNR seats a few years ago, $400 for the Stones last summer. I skipped Metallica's last tour because it was $200+. Those are things I'm not going to go to very often. At least with PJ the prices aren't that insane, and it means I can go to a few shows.
I will say that when I was younger it was well known that veteran acts charged more for their shows. When PJ was playing in the 90s, their core fanbase wasn't that old. They didn't have the incomes to support higher ticket prices. While this is still the case for some people in 2020, I would say most of us make better income than we did 20 years ago. For me paying $60usd or whatever it was for a Binaural Tour tickets in 2000 hurt the pocket more in 2000, than $125 tickets do in 2020. At the same time a PJ ticket was $50 or $60usd (in 2000) I remember paying $129usd to see The Who. I know we were all very aware the Stones charged a lot back then for tickets (compared to newer artists).
I do wonder how this all impacts newer artists. Part of the reason PJ's shows are amazing is because of their catalog. They put out a fair amount of music in their first 10 years. It allowed them to have loads of songs to mix up sets, play longer sets, have that many more great songs to include in the sets. The albums helped to lead to amazing shows. If no one buys albums anymore, and streaming doesn't pay much, new artists need the live shows. If they don't focus on albums and making music, how do they get to the point the live shows are amazing? Seems to create a chicken/egg kind of problem.