Superfans Pay Thousands for Barricade Spots as VIP Concert Spending Reshapes Live Music
Fans are increasingly investing thousands in VIP tickets and prime spots at concerts. For instance, 43-year-old Tara Bess saved for nine months to purchase a $1,400 VIP ticket to see Harry Styles at Madison Square Garden. Eddie Meehan, CEO of Please & Thank You, observed a notable rise in VIP ticket sales following the pandemic. According to manager Randy Nichols, artists are now providing premium tickets with special benefits as album sales decline. Luminate's data indicates that superfans spend 80% more each month compared to casual attendees, with a Goldman Sachs report predicting an additional $4 billion in revenue by 2025. Meanwhile, non-VIP fans still camp out, and Olivia Rodrigo remarked on fans wearing diapers for front-row access. Amber Harms spent $3,400 for front-row BTS seats.
Key facts
- Tara Bess paid $1,400 for a resale VIP ticket to a Harry Styles show at Madison Square Garden
- Bess worked a second job as an Uber driver and saved for nine months to afford the trip from Florida
- Eddie Meehan of Please & Thank You said VIP growth has been astronomical, especially post-Covid
- Luminate reports superfans spend 80% more on music each month than casual fans
- A 2025 Goldman Sachs report estimated superfans could add $4bn per year to the industry
- Holly Fisher paid $475 for a Kesha VIP ticket with soundcheck access and early entry
- Amber Harms paid $3,400 on a resale site for two front-row BTS seats in Chicago
- Olivia Rodrigo told Kiss FM in June that fans wear diapers to hold barricade spots
Entities
Artists
- Harry Styles
- Tara Bess
- Eddie Meehan
- Robyn
- Audrey Hobert
- Randy Nichols
- Olivia Rodrigo
- Stephen Parker
- Kesha
- Holly Fisher
- Dr Luke
- Amber Harms
Institutions
- Madison Square Garden
- Please & Thank You
- Luminate
- Goldman Sachs
- iHeartRadio
- National Independent Venue Association
- Kiss FM
- BTS
- Uber
- Getty Images
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- Florida
- Las Vegas
- Chicago
- North Carolina
- South Korea
- United Kingdom