ZZ Top

ZZ Top Leads the Charge for Lower Concert Ticket Prices

Concertgoers fed up with ballooning ticket prices may see relief in 2011. The recession, combined with ticket prices that increased four-times faster than inflation between 1996 and 2008, left many fans shut out. Promoters left holding the bag tried in vain to fill seats with fire-sale prices. Fans weren’t buying it. Concert attendance fell 12% in the first half of 2010, at the same time that more artists than ever were hitting the road to augment declining CD sales. For 2011 some promoters say they'll offer cheaper tickets from the start as the know fans will spend more on beer and merch once they arrive. ZZ Top expects to set prices below the 2010 average of $55, with some tickets as little as $10. "It's time to give the value back," said Carl Stubner, manager of the bearded Texas band. "We'll find other ways to make money." But fans of hot acts like Justin Bieber won’t see much of a break as the laws of supply and demand hold strong. Additionally, some artists like Lady Gaga might like to decrease ticket prices, but are forced to charge more given their production’s scale. Ticket prices climbed steadily until promoters moved from a one-price-fits-all scheme to a tiered model, like that practiced by airlines, which charges significantly higher prices for better seats. However, as long as the recession continues, with more tickets on sale and more acts from which to choose, the pressure to keep prices down is high. -Court