Dylan Scott Blasts Live Nation CEO for Saying Concert Tickets Are ‘Underpriced’

Chart-topping country star Dylan Scott is calling out Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino’s recent claim that concert tickets have been “underpriced” for “a long time.” 

Scott, who is in the midst of his Easy Does It Tour, shared his thoughts on the comments from the stage during a recent concert. 

In a fan-captured video shared on TikTok, Scott can be heard asking the audience, “Did you see what the CEO of Live Nation said the other day? He said ticket prices need to be more expensive.”

Without hesitation, Scott declared, “That’s some bull crap.” 

The crowd cheered as he went on to say, “They need to be lower is what they need to be. People like that don’t realize what it’s like everyday and I do, thank God, because I had a daddy who was a welder and a momma who worked at the church.”

Fans continued to cheer throughout his speech from the stage and it looks like fans on TikTok agree with him. 

@nevada.kemp @DylanScott calling out the Live Nation #CEO like a real one🫶 I linked where you can buy tickets for his upcoming shows. Go see him before the tour wraps up! #dylanscott #concert #livemusic ♬ original sound – nevada.kemp

“So glad he’s talking abt it!! tickets are getting way too expensive and we can’t afford it,” one user wrote, while another shared, “Yes!!!! More artists need to say it” 

Others called ticket prices “absolutely insane” and declared that they “need to be affordable.” 

Rapino’s comments were made during a conversation with CNBC and Boardroom’s Game Plan conference. The CEO, who reportedly has a net worth of $997.1 million, compared concerts to sports

“Music has been under-appreciated,” Rapino said. “In sports, I joke it’s like a badge of honor to spend 70 grand for a Knicks courtside [seat]. They beat me up if we charge $800 for Beyoncé.”

“We have a lot of runway left,” he continued. “So when you read about ticket prices going up, the average concert price is still $72. Try going to a Laker game for that, and there’s 80 of them. The concert is underpriced and has been for a long time.”

Rapino’s comments came days before the Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against Live Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, accusing them of engaging in “illegal” ticket resale practices. According to the FTC, the companies “tacitly worked” with scalpers who were able to “unlawfully purchase” tickets in order to boost profits.

According to the lawsuit, Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s “illegal conduct frustrates artists’ desire to maintain affordable ticket prices that fit the needs of ordinary American families, costing ordinary fans millions of dollars every year.” 

Additionally, Live Nation is also sued over allegations of antitrust violations by the U.S. Department of Justice.