The high cost of concert tickets has driven one American fan to extreme measures – flying to Europe to see her idol Taylor Swift perform live. Jacki Thrapp, a Nashville native, found that it was actually cheaper to fly to Europe and attend one of Swift’s shows there than to buy a ticket for one of the remaining US dates of the Eras Tour.
With tickets for the US shows selling for as much as $2,500 on the resale market, compared to their face value of $49, many American fans are feeling the financial strain. Jacki decided to take matters into her own hands and flew to Sweden in May to catch two of Swift’s performances, with each ticket costing her less than $200.
The issue of inflated ticket prices and predatory resellers is not unique to the US, as other countries like the UK also face similar challenges. However, some European nations have implemented laws to prevent tickets from being resold above their original price, providing some relief to fans.
In an effort to combat ticket scalping and ensure that true fans have access to tickets at a fair price, companies like Tixologi are using technology, particularly AI and blockchain, to create secure electronic tickets with unique features that prevent duplication and resale. Similarly, Seat Unique is utilizing dynamic pricing and AI to monitor demand and set prices accordingly, keeping tickets in the hands of fans and not scalpers.
As the concert industry continues to evolve, with AI even making its way onto the stage in the form of holographic performances, fans like Jacki Thrapp are hopeful that advancements in technology will provide a better and more affordable way to enjoy live music.
