Michael Jackson was known as the King of Pop and was one of the most popular entertainers in the world during his lifetime. He was famous for hits like “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and “Thriller” and his legendary dance moves and music videos. Jackson’s live concerts were huge spectacles and hot tickets whenever he toured.
Jackson’s Early Concert Tours
Jackson first hit it big as a child star with The Jackson 5 in the late 1960s and early 1970s. After going solo in the late 1970s, he started headlining major concert tours showcasing his slick dance moves and soaring vocals. For example, his Triumph Tour in 1981 sold over 2 million tickets across North America at an average ticket price of $30, which would be about $83 today adjusted for inflation.
As Jackson’s stardom grew exponentially in the 1980s with the release of mega-hits like “Thriller,” so did ticket prices. The singer’s 1984 Victory Tour with his brothers saw average ticket prices between $30-$50, or $80-$130 today. His record-breaking Bad Tour from 1987-1989 charged $28-$60 per ticket on average, which is approximately $65-$140 in today’s dollars. The tour sold over 4 million tickets across 123 shows.
Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous World Tour
By the early 1990s, Michael Jackson was firmly established as the biggest pop star on the planet. His Dangerous World Tour kicked off in June 1992 in support of his Dangerous album and its chart-topping singles like “Black or White” and “Remember the Time.”
The Dangerous Tour hit 69 cities across Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. It sold out nearly every venue it visited, with Jackson performing for over 3.5 million fans in just over a year and a half. Average ticket prices ranged from $50-$70, or approximately $95-$130 in today’s money.
| Show Location | Show Date | Average Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | February 13, 1992 | $60 |
| New York, NY | July 6, 1992 | $70 |
| London, England | August 29, 1992 | $50 |
As seen in the table above, ticket prices in major markets like Los Angeles and New York were at the higher end, while international stops tended to have more affordable seats available.
The HIStory World Tour 1996-1997
After taking time off in the mid-1990s, Michael Jackson started his elaborate HIStory World Tour in 1996 to support his HIStory greatest hits package. With stops in 58 cities over nearly a year and a half, the tour continued Jackson’s trend of expensive, in-demand concert tickets.
Average ticket prices for the HIStory Tour ranged from $85-$125 in the U.S., or approximately $140-$205 in today’s money. International ticket prices were typically a bit lower. The tour’s average ticket price was an all-time high for Jackson, reflecting his undisputed position as the “King of Pop.”
| Show Location | Show Date | Average Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland, New Zealand | November 10, 1996 | $85 |
| New York, NY | September 7, 1997 | $125 |
| Goteborg, Sweden | August 29, 1997 | $90 |
As the table shows, the New York City shows at the peak of Jackson’s fame in 1997 commanded top dollar, exceeding prices for other global venues on the tour.
Post-HIStory Tours in the 2000s
Michael Jackson toured much more sporadically after the 1990s. He did a pair of anniversary shows at Madison Square Garden in September 2001 to celebrate 30 years of his solo career. Ticket prices averaged $250 for those hotly anticipated concerts.
Jackson then didn’t tour again until the announcement of his This Is It series of 50 planned 2009 shows at London’s O2 Arena. Average ticket prices ranged from $85-$750 for these ultimate VIP experiences. Unfortunately, Jackson passed away before he could fulfill the This Is It concert engagements.
Factors Influencing Jackson’s Concert Ticket Prices
There were a few key factors that drove the pricing of Michael Jackson’s concert tickets over his career:
Increasing Popularity
As Jackson’s fame as a singer and dancer skyrocketed in the 1980s, demand for tickets soared, allowing prices to be pushed higher.
Larger Venues
In Jackson’s early career, he often played smaller arenas and amphitheaters that held 15,000-20,000 people. By the late 1980s, he was booking much larger NFL stadiums, with some crowds exceeding 100,000 fans. The bigger the venue, the higher the average ticket price.
Elaborateness of Productions
Jackson’s tours became more and more over the top with complex choreography, costumes, and special effects. These huge productions drove up the costs of putting on the shows.
Scarcity of Performances
Since Jackson toured somewhat infrequently and kept fans waiting 4-5 years between tours, demand drastically exceeded supply when new concerts were announced.
Location
Ticket prices adjusted based on the local market. Cities like New York and LA saw the most expensive tickets, while international dates were more affordable.
How Jackson’s Ticket Prices Compare to Today
When adjusted for inflation, here is how the average ticket price on some of Michael Jackson’s biggest concert tours would equate in 2023 dollars:
| Tour | Year | Average Ticket Price Then | Adjusted for Inflation Price Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victory Tour | 1984 | $40 | $105 |
| Bad Tour | 1988-89 | $45 | $105 |
| Dangerous Tour | 1992-93 | $60 | $115 |
| HIStory Tour | 1996-97 | $105 | $175 |
Compared to today’s concert tickets, Michael Jackson’s ticket prices while he was actively touring seem very reasonable. The average concert ticket for major pop stars today like Beyonce or Taylor Swift frequently exceeds $200-$400.
Some examples of average 2023 ticket prices for other top acts include:
| Artist | Average 2023 Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Beyonce | $260 |
| The Weeknd | $290 |
| Taylor Swift | $425 |
| Adele | $375 |
While Jackson’s ticket prices were considered high at the time he was performing, they seem very affordable by modern standards when taking inflation into account. Of course, the tradeoff was getting to see one of music’s all-time greatest entertainers in his prime!
Conclusion
In summary, Michael Jackson’s average concert ticket prices typically ranged from $40-$125 over the span of his career as a solo artist in the 1980s and 1990s. When adjusted for inflation, that equates to around $100-$200 in today’s dollars. While considered expensive at the time, these prices are now viewed as quite modest compared to what major pop and rock stars charge nowadays for their tours. At his peak, Jackson could justify the high ticket demand because of his unmatched abilities as a dancer, singer, and choreographer. Fans knew they were seeing a once-in-a-generation superstar any time they got tickets to a Michael Jackson show.