Concert tickets were already pricey, and now cities are tacking on something new: the “entertainment tax.” That’s right—your next trip to see a favorite band might include a fee that has nothing to do with the artist, the venue, or even Ticketmaster. These city-imposed taxes are spreading fast, and fans everywhere are feeling the squeeze.
But why are local governments suddenly so interested in what happens when the lights go down and the amplifiers go up? The answers are just as layered as the setlist at a three-hour stadium show.
