Whether it’s Coldplay, Zach Bryan, Taylor Swift, or Sabrina Carpenter, there are constantly new concerts to attend, especially in the northeast. New York and Boston have always been go-to concert locations for us in Connecticut, and this past year has been no exception. However, in the past decade and especially in recent years since COVID-19, concert culture has changed drastically. Social media has been a large factor in these shifts, along with the constant fluctuations in the economy. Among the many changes, the most notable and impactful have been the increased ticket prices, the lack of accessibility to tickets, and the absence of basic concert etiquette.

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In the last couple of years since the pandemic, prices for basic necessities have increased, and the prices of concert tickets have reflected this trend, making it harder for people to see their favorite artists live. In addition to the high prices, acquiring tickets directly has become more difficult, particularly due to Ticketmaster, which controls about 80% of ticketing for concerts and live events. This September, the Federal Trading Commission and 7 other states sued Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, for allegedly allowing brokers of resale companies to buy millions of tickets for shows and enabling scalpers to use bots to acquire tickets and raise their prices significantly. The issue first drew major attention in 2022 during the presale of The Eras Tour, when Ticketmaster’s website crashed under massive demand and bot attacks, leaving no tickets available for the general sale. Meanwhile, resale sites such as StubHub and Vivid Seats were able to secure thousands of tickets and sell them for twice or thrice the cost of their face value. These unfair systems have made concerts increasingly inaccessible, shifting live music from being a shared experience to a privilege reserved for few.

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At the same time, the experience itself of going to a concert has been reshaped by social media. Some fans spend the entire show recording it, instead of actively watching and enjoying the experience that they paid for. Others livestream shows on social media, a gesture that is generous and considerate for people at home unable to attend, but can be potentially disruptive for those around them. Additionally, there has been a noticeable decline in concert etiquette, as people push others to get the perfect shot, block others' views with their signs or phones, and try to create ‘viral moments’ or start trends. 

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Live music is something that is meant to be enjoyed by all. It can foster new connections and create memorable experiences for many. Music in general has also always been something that brings people together and often allows for a shared experience. When these experiences are tainted by soaring prices, inaccessibility, and content creation, they become stressful and unenjoyable. Concertgoers should make the most out of their experience, but not at the expense of others who are trying to do the same. Companies like Ticketmaster need to do more to prevent resales and make tickets easier to obtain, and artists should continue to advocate for this cause. Everyone should have the opportunity to listen to their favorite music live rather than just through a screen.