"In 2025, it's no secret that the state of live music is in something of a weird (yeah, let's go with weird) spot. Ticket prices for arena shows are astronomical, Ticketmaster's practices are the subject of such intense criticism that it's become a genuine political issue, and bands of all sizes are canceling tours left and right, citing rising costs and being unable to fill the rooms they originally booked."
"The issues are systemic and massive in scope, and they affect just about everyone who interacts with the music industry. Much ink has been spilled attempting to diagnose what exactly is going on, as well as potential treatment options, but how do these economic trends actually manifest in the lives of artists? As broken as the system is, today's musicians have no choice but to operate within it if they want to tour, having little individual power to meaningfully change the structures around them."
Touring as a small band in 2025 faces systemic industry pressures including astronomical arena ticket prices, intense criticism of Ticketmaster, and frequent tour cancellations due to rising costs and low ticket sales. Economic trends now affect nearly everyone who interacts with the music industry and leave independent musicians with limited power to change structural forces. Small bands continue to attempt tours despite financial precarity, mounting expenses, and difficulties filling venues. The band Six Flags Guy undertook an initial eight-city tour in 2025, confronting the practical realities and sustainability questions of touring outside superstar-level acts.
Read at Consequence
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