Country Music Awards Hitting High Notes With Ticket Prices

The appearance of some of country music's biggest stars is largely responsible for high ticket prices on the secondary market.
By Jesse Lawrence ,

On Nov. 4, the Country Music Awards will take place at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. Also known as "country's biggest night in music," the 49th annual event will air on ABC at 8 p.m. EST. It will feature 16 performances from some of the biggest names in the music industry.

Country superstars Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will host the CMAs. The duo have hosted the event a total of eight times together. Tickets to the CMAs are averaging a whopping $706 on the secondary ticket market. Even a get-in ticket is pricey at the current $239.

Last year's CMA ticket prices also ran high, averaging $541 with a get-in of $225. In 2013, the CMAs averaged $621, and in 2012, tickets averaged $463. 

The star-studded cast that routinely performs is probably behind the high prices. Many of the artists draw significant attendance on their own tours.

CMA host Carrie Underwood will be embarking on a 2016 tour connected to her album Storyteller. Resale tickets are already averaging over $200, according to TiqIQ. The Zac Brown Band is finishing up its seven-month "Jekyll & Hyde Tour," and tickets for the event are averaging $150 on the secondary market.

Scheduled performers throughout the night will include Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line, Keith Urban and the Zac Brown Band.

The night will also feature a few non-country music acts like rock group Fall Out Boy, who will be performing with Thomas Rhett. Justin Timberlake, who hails from Memphis, will also be performing with Album of the Year nominee Chris Stapleton. There is little question that Timberlake's appearance is adding to ticket demand.

Award presenters will include a variety of major names in sports, film and music, including actor/comedian Steve Martin, acapella group Pentatonix, ESPN commentators Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit, and Megan Rapinoe and Heather O'Reilly from the U.S. women's national soccer team.

This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.

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