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# Concert Ticket Breakdown: Who Wins, Loses & Why It Matters
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/concert-ticket-breakdown-who-wins-who-loses-and-why-it-matters/
- Published: 2025-03-04T15:44:06.000Z
- Updated: 2025-03-04T15:56:13.000Z
- Description: Have you wondered where your ticket dollars really go? Justin Kantor looks at the surprising concert ticket breakdown of costs, profits, and challenges faced by independent artists and venues.
- Author: Alana Bonilla
- Tags: Live & Ticketing, Music Business, live and touring, music, music industry, musician, musicians, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 11:15

Have you wondered where your ticket dollars really go? Justin Kantor looks at the surprising concert ticket breakdown of costs, profits, and challenges faced by independent artists and venues.

### Concert Ticket Breakdown: Who Wins, Loses & Why It Matters

![Ticketing profit distribution at a live music concert, highlighting revenue shares for venue, artist, and ticket sales, with emphasis on music event profitability.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/www-hypebot-com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image-13.png)

*by [*JUSTIN KANTOR*](https://substack.com/@justinkantor?ref=hypebot.com), founder of [VenuePilot](http://venuepilot.com/?ref=hypebot.com)*

The live event industry thrives on collaboration between artists, venues, promoters, managers, agents, and ticketing companies. An infographic from the [Wall Street Journal](https://www.instagram.com/p/C7ke5a8tHko?ref=hypebot.com) (below) indicates that artists make up to 98% of ticket revenue:

[@wsj](https://instagram.com/wsj?ref=hypebot.com)

![concert ticket breakdown](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/www-hypebot-com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/screenshot-2024-12-20-at-1-13-28-am.png)

This sparked heated responses, such as [NITO’s](https://www.instagram.com/p/DCzHsLOSznJ?ref=hypebot.com) (National Independent Talent Organization) about the accuracy of revenue distribution.

[@nito\_live](https://instagram.com/nito%5Flive?ref=hypebot.com)

![concert ticket breakdown](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/www-hypebot-com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/screenshot-2024-12-20-at-1-14-07-am.png)

While these discussions often center on large arena shows, the reality for small, independent venues is vastly different—and less often discussed.

As a professional cellist and co-founder of NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge, I started VenuePilot to provide fellow independent venues and promoters with a comprehensive and cost-competitive ticketing and events management platform.

Fostering a sustainable and equitable ecosystem that truly supports artists, venues, and audiences alike has become my life’s mission.

In [this data story](https://www.canva.com/design/DAGYqeORM7U/WL-FpbSCz-ujcmU3oXJ-vg/view?utlId=h2d3ca17264&ref=hypebot.com), I’ll examine **the financial breakdown of a 200-capacity independent venue (promoted in-house) hosting a sold-out $20 per ticket show**. By analyzing revenue streams, expenses, and profit sharing, my aim is to uncover where the money goes—and where it is disproportionately taken.

[![concert ticket breakdown](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/substackcdn-com/image/fetch/w_1456-c_limit-f_auto-q_auto-good-fl_progressive-steep/https-/substack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com/public/images/b89e1f87-d7a0-43fc-bdb8-8461b578b0d3_1200x630.jpg)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/substackcdn-com/image/fetch/f%5Fauto-q%5Fauto-good-fl%5Fprogressive-steep/https-/substack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com/public/images/b89e1f87-d7a0-43fc-bdb8-8461b578b0d3%5F1200x630.jpg?ref=hypebot.com)

Click [here](https://www.canva.com/design/DAGYqeORM7U/WL-FpbSCz-ujcmU3oXJ-vg/view?utlId=h2d3ca17264&ref=hypebot.com) to access the data story

I welcome the opportunity to expand on these findings, as assumptions can vary significantly from one case to another.

#### If you are a stakeholder in the live events space with insights to share, I’d love to collaborate further and refine this perspective.