If you—like everybody else right now—are trying to get Bruno Mars tickets, you might be looking at the prices and clutching your wallet in shock! No, you’re not dreaming. Prices for the “24K Magic” star range from $500 to $2,000 on Ticketmaster, making his fans think twice about grabbing one as they complain on X.
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“Unless Bruno Mars is personally singing directly into my ear for 6 hours in a private setting and then jetting me off to Rome in his private plane, what the f**k is $2400 for,” One user wrote after reading the shocking figures.
“Why were Bruno Mars tickets $600+ for lower f***ing bowl???? $2k+ for floor??? What in the f***?” Asked another.
While folks on X air out the fedora-wearing “Grenade” singer, it does bring up a fair question for the current state of concert tickets: Why does it feel like you’ve got to make sure you have a spare $1k to dish out just in case your fave decides to go on tour, and can the price be lowered? And if they can, erm…why haven’t they?
Well, it’s not all Ticketmaster’s fault. While the entertainment company has been in trouble for dynamic pricing — when prices rise due to high demand — before, they’re not solely to blame.
According to Business Insider, artists nowadays make the majority of their income from touring due to shifts in how the music industry works. With the rise of streaming, the days when artists could rely heavily on physical sales are over, and now their main income comes from touring.
In 2021, The New York Times reported that while streaming services such as Apple Music, Tidal, Spotify, and more make up 83% of recorded music revenue in the United States, most artists only see a fraction of this money.
Per The New York Times, artists can earn $4,000 per million streams and only half a cent for a single stream. However, before the talent actually sees any of this money, their record company sees it first and takes its cut, leaving artists looking at their dry pockets confused.
But that’s only the tip of the expensive iceberg. According to Business Insider, the cost of the venue, labor, gas, equipment, and operational costs all amount toward the final price you’ll pay to see your fav in person. When you consider these costs adjusted to rising inflation, whew, it’s definitely looking a little steep!
Nevertheless, there are still some ways artists can save their fans from having to break the bank. The British publication The Times noted that artists can decide whether or not to sell their tickets for face value or allow Ticketmaster to do its thing and allow those dynamic pricing methods to drive up the costs.
Many artists have helped their fans out in the past. According to The Guardian, Black British singer Olivia Dean made headlines in December for calling out Ticketmaster for giving her fans a “disgusting service” after resale prices for her shows in the U.S. sold for up to $1,000. Not only did she call out the entertainment giant, but she demanded that her fans be refunded…and they were.
While high ticket prices come for several reasons, artists can and sometimes do step in to help their fans. So, if you’re still on the Bruno Mars Ticketmaster page, crossing your fingers for lower prices, maybe he’ll come through. Until then, just keep on praying.
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