NPR. Molly Obamsuin is a composer slash bassist slash singer songwriter.
She plays different genres from jazz to rock.
She actually just performed two shows with cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
And Molly says that a few years ago, she remembers ticket prices for other bands going up to $150.
And I was like, wow, I will never charge more than that.
I remember saying that to myself, like, that's insane.
Like, I still want to be able to reach people who actually can't afford a $150 ticket, you know?
And I think it's important to be able to choose your audience that way and not just,
like, have your own success, carry an audience that is of a specific income bracket.
Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino, though, has a much different view on ticket pricing.
Live Nation is the parent company of Ticketmaster.
And Michael Rapino said last month that concert tickets are underpriced and have been for a long time.
That comment was tough for a lot of music fans to swallow.
I mean, take Bruno Mars.
He is playing two shows in Las Vegas in December.
I went on Ticketmaster yesterday and the cheapest seat I could find was $850.
Ticket price is going to Mars.
Maybe that example is on the higher end.
But the price of concert tickets has gone up faster than overall inflation.
And the ticket market is this economic puzzle that continues to be devil fans,