The Weird History of Concert Tickets Part 2

In part two of our series, we continue to figure out why buying concert tickets has become one of the most frustrating consumer experiences…and why it’s always been that way. From the evolution of ticketing from physical box offices and early computer systems to the rise of Ticketmaster, we want to understand how service fees, scalping, exclusive venue contracts, and industry power struggles shaped the modern ticket market. Through artists like Pearl Jam and the Grateful Dead, we find out how economics, technology, and demand transformed concerts into a high‑stakes business, setting the stage for today’s world of instant sellouts and dynamic pricing. All in the hopes of you getting that concert ticket that you've been waiting for, in the virtual line-up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices