Gig-going: Concert inflation is real

10/17/23 7:00PM

Gigflation

‍‍Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Film wasn’t just a record-breaking concert movie when it came out last Friday: it also gave many of her devoted fans a chance to guarantee they got a good seat for ~$20 if they missed out on tickets for the real thing... and don’t fancy forking out $11,000 for resale spots.

It’s not just Swifties who’ve been suffering from the ticketing uptick in recent years, either. The average price to go and see one of the top 100 North American tours in 2023 — from Sheeran to Springsteen — will now set you back $120.11, according to data from Pollstar cited by the WSJ. For context, tickets for the same sort of shows cost $62.50 on average in 2009.

‍That’s showbiz

‍Despite rising ticket prices and long-standing issues with online vendors and resellers, American gig-goers haven’t been dissuaded from getting their entertainment fix. Indeed, the rip-roaring success of shows from artists like Swift and Beyonce led the Bank of America to highlight live gigs as the clear star of the media and entertainment industry in its recent “Funflation In Full Force” report.

With concert culture flying in the wake of summer’s much-reported Barbenheimer boom, will 2023 be remembered (say it quietly) as the year that America got its appetite for in-person entertainment and experiences back after an elongated pandemic slump?

Millie Giles

PANDORA’S BOX OFFICE

1/5/26

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” surpasses $1 billion globally after 18 days

James Cameron is now the first director in history to have four consecutive movies gross over a billion dollars.

$5.6B

Max Knoblauch12/23/25

Disney could be well on its way to its third billion-dollar film of the year following a $345 million opening weekend for “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” The film’s opening gross puts the “Avatar” franchise’s total box office earnings at $5.6 billion — and counting.

The latest film, the second “Avatar” entry under Disney’s tent, earned about 75% of its total box office gross internationally — in line with previous movies in the (as of now) trilogy. Domestically, this one earned $88 million, falling short of expectations.

“Fire and Ash” was the widest Imax release ever, debuting on 1,703 screens globally and earning $43.6 million through the format. The $345 million “Fire and Ash” opening weekend was the second-highest of 2025, behind Disney’s “Zootopia 2,” which recently passed the $1 billion mark, globally.

Year to date, Disney has earned $5.8 billion globally at the box office.

Jake Paul v Anthony Joshua - Fighter Showcase & Open Workout

Three reasons Netflix needs Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO

It’s tough out there for the top paid streamer.

Rani Molla12/22/25

Tom Jones

snowball effect

12/16/25

What are America’s favorite Christmas movies?

64% of Americans are planning on watching one this year.

group of children watching television with a Christmas tree behind them

Max Knoblauch12/12/25

In less than 3 weeks, Disney’s “Zootopia 2” becomes the second billion-dollar film of 2025

The global film industry officially has its second billion-dollar film of the year, as Disney’s “Zootopia 2” surged past the $1 billion box office mark in just 17 days. The other billion-dollar film this year, the live-action “Lilo & Stitch,” was also made by Disney.

“Zootopia” was the fastest to reach 10 figures of any animated film. The animated hit, which had the highest-grossing global debut of the year over Thanksgiving weekend, has benefited from massive numbers in China.

Disney also logged two billion-dollar films last year with “Inside Out 2” and “Moana 2.” (The latter also came out over the Thanksgiving holiday.) The only other film to cross the mark in 2024 was “Deadpool and Wolverine,” which featured Disney’s IP.

Gig-going: Concert inflation is real

More Culture

Three reasons Netflix needs Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO

In less than 3 weeks, Disney’s “Zootopia 2” becomes the second billion-dollar film of 2025

Latest Stories