From overpriced tickets to epic stadium shows, ARIA-Spotify backlash and bluegrass breakthroughs this week in live music is wild. Music guruDavid Kowalskihas the latest.

LiveNation CEO says concert tickets are undervalued

In the latest from the CEO-has-no-concept-of-reality files, the CEO of U.S. Concert promoterLive Nation, Michael Rapino, has argued that concert tickets areundervaluedand that they are in demand (potentially justifying a higher price tag). He argues the average ticket price for a top 100 concert draw is US$72 (AU$109) and to try and get into the Lakers for that price.

Well, Mr Rapino, I did just that, and the October 3 pre-season game of theLakers vs the Phoenix Suns, the starting ticket price starts at US$67 (AU$101) and goes up to over US$400 (AU$606) depending on seat position. Mind you, for the first game of the regular season on October 21, the tickets start at US$238(AU$360)and head skywards from there.

Rapino did get one thing right, and that is that the costs for staging a concert have gone through the roof lately. Venue hire is crazy and audiences are expecting an audiovisual spectacular these days. This means the average price is nowhere near $100. They cant be, because the logistics of presenting such a show are enormous. Throw in the ridiculous concept ofdynamic pricing, that pushes prices into the stratosphere depending on demand, and gigs continue to be unaffordable.

I dont quite know what the solution is to make live music accessible to everyone and not just those with deep pockets. It certainly isnt a wealthy CEO telling us how good we already have it, though.

NRL and AFL Grand Final performances

In the news this week the epic battle between theGeelong Catsand theBrisbane Lionsin theAFL grand finalfor 2025. It was an epic battle that saw the Lions emerge victors. Before the game even started, 100,000 fans were greeted to a sound that had never shaken the hallowed turf of the MCG before a football match West CoastGansta Rap, or in this case, G-Funk.

The beats were supplied by legendary but controversial rapperSnoop Dogg. Before the performance even happened he was in the news for someill-conceived commentsabout the LGBTIQ+ community, and theannouncement of his performanceat the grand final also raised some eyebrows.

He started his performance by revving up the crowd on the video screen, before unleashing a 15 minute performance that had echoes of pep rallies and college football in the USA, with cheerleaders, marching bands, and synchronised dancing, with fireworks and flame cannons. There was not a hair out of place with the performance looking professional as a made for TV spectacle would be. It also featured some local talent involved, withJessica Mauboyjoining in on vocals in aLettermen jacket, Yolgnu rap prodigyBaker Boybringing in some didgeridoo andTash Sultanaon guitar.

The performance of course had its detractors, however it was largely reported that the performance went down as one of the best pre-game performances in the history of the AFL. I couldnt help but feel the performance was a bit anachronistic next toMike Bradytrotting outUp There Cazalyagain

While the music industry fightsagainst Big Tech and AI, some homegrown Aussie artists are doing great things.

Contrasting that with theNational Rugby Leaguegrand final which is taking place on the long weekend (Sunday 5th October). NRL boss Peter VLandys making a sideways swipe at theAFLabout havingwhats he called, Labrador or poodle? All I know is its a dog act. Meanwhile, he proclaims that the act he booked for the NRL grand final, facial tattooed country singerTeddy Swims, is a bloke [that] can really sing.

VLandys hopes that Teddy Swims will help promote the NRL in America, in a similar way to how the Snoop Dogg appearance drove the AFL grand final to its highest viewing numbers ever. That said, there is some conjecture that Swims may not appear at all, given that on his Instagram he was told by doctors to cancel gigs in Hawaii recently due to voice troubles. The NRL hasdismissed this speculation, however, and Swims labelWarner Musichas confirmed the NRLs statement. This should be interesting how this pans out but I think this would be more in the wheelhouse of most footy fans that Snoop Dogg was.

Thelma Plumb at the ARIAs

November, akaAustralian Music Month, is almost upon us, and with that comes theARIA awards. Australian Musics night-of-nights is back again this year and it is controversially presented in partnership withSpotify.

Heading the nominations this year is Electronic artistNinajirachiwith eight nominations, DJDom Dollawith seven nominations, Melbourne bogan punksAmyl and the Sniffershave six, and First Nations singer-songwriterThelma Plumwith an amazingfive nominations.

Plum has had a huge year with her second album'Im Sorry, Now Say It Back'hitting number 1 on the ARIA Physical albums sales chart and top 10 on the Digital sales charts. She also won the Rolling Stone Australia Award for Best Single 2025 for her track Freckles.

The publicly voted awards have been integrated with the Spotify app, but not everybody is happy about it. Nominees for the2025 Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Award, the brilliant Melbourne punk bandGut Health, think there are major ethical issues with this.

In astatement, the band said:

I couldnt agree more. Unfortunately, ARIA have signed up for a three-year deal with Spotify so the complaints will fall on deaf ears

New music The High Street Drifters

Something a little different for new music this week is the new double A-side single by MelbournesHigh Street Drifters. They are making waves in country music circles right now with their signature blend of traditional bluegrass with a modern edge to it.

Words for Leaving is a painful ballad of lost love and parenting ways too soon.

In the words of writer Stuart Coupe:

The other track joining this release is Snakes Reach, which is a blistering bluegrass instrumental, with some fiery mandolin action. Snakes Reach captures the joy of playing flat-out bluegrass, says guitarist Daniel Watkins.

These two tracks are definitely worthy of your ears.

Until next week

LISTEN TO THIS WEEK'S SPECIALLY CURATED PLAYLIST BELOW:

David Kowalskiis a writer, musician, educator, sound engineer and podcaster. His podcasts 'The Sound and the Fury Podcast' and 'Audio Cumulus' can be heard exclusivelyHERE. You can follow David/X@sound_fury_pod.

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