From Charli XCX taking Brat on the road to Olivia Rodrigo‘s global sell-out tour, 2024 saw many artists take to the stage.
And with gig prices constantly on the rise, it’s no surprise that fans had to dig deep to fork out the cash to attend.
So, following an incredible year of live music, The Sun has revealed who the most expensive acts to see last year – and the results may surprise you.
Despite dominating conversation with her record-breaking Eras Tour, pop sensation Taylor Swift didn’t even make the top 15.
Instead, taking the number one spot was reportedly Irish rock band U2, who averaged just shy of £300 a ticket.
If you wanted to see the group live, you would have had to cough up approximately £287 during their residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
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The most extortionate gigs of 2024 have been revealed – and Taylor Swift didn’t even make the top 15
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Despite dominating conversation with her record-breaking Eras Tour, the pop sensation was no higher than number 17
In second place was country music star Garth Brooks, 62, whose ticket prices set fans back roughly £285 a pop.
He was closely followed by Lady Gaga, with the Bad Romance hitmaker’s shows costing £252.
Next up in fourth place was the legendary American rock band The Eagles with £239, followed by Bad Bunny who offered an average cost of £228.
George Strait was in fourth with £227 and The Rolling Stones very closely followed in fifth with tickets setting fans back £1 less at £226.
Another American rock band, Dead And Co, are in eighth with £225, while Mexican band Los Bukis were in ninth with tickets priced at £210.
Rounding off the top ten was both Sting and Billy Joel, who shared the bill for stadium shows across the United States earlier this year, and charged roughly £191 per head.
Worldwide sensation Taylor flogged her tickets for approximately £163 per person, which only put her at number 17 in the price list.
The shocking list comes just after a move to stop ‘organised’ touts from fleecing music and sports fans was announced yesterday amid proposals for a cap on ticket resale prices.
Ministers have also put out a ‘call for evidence’ about the controversial practice of ‘dynamic pricing’ on official ticketing sites, which caused fury during the summer when tickets for the Oasis reunion dates went on sale.
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Instead, taking the number one spot was reportedly Irish rock band U2, who averaged just shy of £300 a ticket
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In second place was country music star Garth Brooks, 62, whose ticket prices set fans back roughly £285 a pop
He was closely followed by Lady Gaga, with the Bad Romance hitmaker’s shows costing £252
The public consultation will consider views on capping resale prices on a range from the original price to up to a 30 per cent uplift, as well as limiting the number of tickets resellers can list to the maximum they are allowed to purchase on the primary market.
The measures would aim to prevent organised touts from reselling a large number of tickets at vastly inflated prices and disincentivise industrial-scale touting.
Plans also include creating new legal obligations for ticket resale websites and apps so that they are held responsible by Trading Standards and the CMA for the accuracy of information they provide to fans.
Trading Standards can already issue fines of up to £5,000 for ticketing rule breaches, but the consultation will consider whether this cap should be increased.
The Government has made the move amid growing anger from people trying to buy tickets for concerts and other major events.
There is huge concern about the way professional touts bulk-buying tickets for popular concerts before reselling them at hugely inflated prices.
In the summer, the sale of tickets for Oasis’ long-awaited reunion sparked widespread fury.
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George Strait was in fourth with £227
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The Rolling Stones very closely followed in fifth with tickets setting fans back £1 less at £226
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The shocking list comes just after a move to stop ‘organised’ touts from fleecing music and sports fans was announced after the Oasis reunion tour debacle
At one point it was reported that tickets for the concerts were selling on resale sites for more than £6,000, about 40 times more than what was meant to be the face value of a standing ticket.
But the controversy over the Oasis ticket sale also centred around complaints that the official ticket seller Ticketmaster was using ‘dynamic pricing’, which raises prices when demand is high.
Fans were left stunned when tickets shot up from £148 to £355 on what became known as ‘Supersonic Saturday’. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating Ticketmaster over the issue.
Among those backing the move are DJ Fatboy Slim who believes it is ‘great to see money being put back into fans pockets instead of resellers’.
The 61-year-old told The Mirror: ‘Fully behind this effort to make sure more people can enjoy incredible arts and music events across the country without being ripped off.
‘It is part of the change this government were elected to make.’
Oasis are not the only music act to have attracted the touts with Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay fans also seeing prices rocket.
The most expensive gigs of 2024
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U2 – £287
Garth Brooks – £285
Lady Gaga – £252
The Eagles – £239
Bad Bunny – £228
George Strait – £227
The Rolling Stones – £226
Dead And Co. – £224
Los Bukis – £210
Sting and Billy Joel – £191
