Taylor Swift’s $197M Bonus: Generous or Just Good Business?

Taylor Swift made headlines by giving her Eras Tour crew nearly $197 million in bonuses — from six-figure checks for truck drivers to major payouts for dancers, musicians, and behind-the-scenes crews. But while artists and crews are celebrating, fans are asking a different question: why are concert tickets more expensive than ever?

In this episode of Both Sides of the Front Porch, Edward and Tammy break down the real economics of live music. We unpack how much artists actually make from ticket sales, why service fees and dynamic pricing drive costs up, and what the average concert ticket really costs today. We also look at how Taylor Swift built her career, became a music industry powerhouse with a billion-dollar net worth, and why her approach to sharing success has sparked a larger conversation about fairness in touring.

Plus, we look ahead to the future of concerts — including AI performances, hologram shows, and virtual tours — and ask whether live music is slowly becoming a luxury experience instead of something for everyone.

And because this is Both Sides of the Front Porch, the conversation goes a little off the rails:
Edward explains why his beloved goldendoodle Loki will not be returning to his groomer turned “master stylist”, and he fully admits to being a baby as he prepares for IV sedation to have a tooth removed. Yes — we cover billion-dollar tours and dental drama in the same episode.

Are concert tickets still worth the price? Are AI concerts the future? And how far is too far when it comes to grooming your dog?

Pull up a chair and join the conversation — real talk from both sides of the front porch.