The FOMO Economy Is Driving a New Era of Concert Costs
The price of a live music ticket has become one of the defining debates in the industry globally, and Australia is right at the centre of it.
A major concert ticket in the mid-1980s cost between $12 and $15. In 2026, premium tickets for the world’s biggest tours regularly exceed $500, with VIP packages stretching well beyond $1,000. The shift has fundamentally changed not just the economics of touring, but how Australian audiences decide whether to attend at all.
Research is increasingly pointing to a ‘FOMO economy’ driving purchasing behaviour, pushing fans to commit to expensive shows they might otherwise skip. It’s a dynamic that benefits the top end of the touring market but does little to help grassroots venues and mid-tier promoters trying to hold the line on accessible ticket prices.
Globally, the US live music market alone hit $18.51 billion in 2025, with the worldwide market sitting at $35.2 billion. Average US ticket prices climbed to $144, a 31 per cent increase over five years. The secondary market in North America is now worth $10.8 billion. These are numbers that make sense for arena-level acts, but they set expectations and pricing pressure that flows through the entire ecosystem.
For Australia, which has already slipped from the global top 10 music markets for the first time to position 13 in the IFPI Global Music Report, the concern is that escalating prices at the top end risk further disengaging audiences from live music more broadly. Cost of living remains the primary barrier to attendance, not lack of interest.
The conversation about ticket pricing, dynamic pricing, and junk fees is only going to get louder here. ALMBC will continue to advocate for pricing transparency and a live music economy that works at every level, not just the stadium tier.
