# Is Lady Gaga really worth a million dollars a show? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 24, 2018, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458 "2018-02-24T07:26:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/21 "2018-02-25T01:50:47Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > A lot of people think the way you do. They are wrong. Well, I’m sorry, but I am objectively correct. Something is worth what people are willing to pay for it. If you’re asking what Lady Gaga is worth in terms of morals, or her character, or how much you want to have lunch with her, that’s your opinion. If you’re asking what her time as a performer is WORTH in MONEY, it’s worth whatever someone will pay her. There is no other meaningful measure of her economic worth as a performer, and you will not be able to create one without committing some sort of brutally obvious argumentative fallacy. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/22 "2018-02-25T01:52:12Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > how much you want to have lunch with her $2 million a lunch. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/23 "2018-02-25T03:53:23Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Well, I’m sorry, but I am objectively correct. Something is worth what people are willing to pay for it. That’s the money she’s contracted to receive. It will be distributed amongst her team, her crew, and her band. It’s not how much she’s worth, she didn’t work any harder than another musician, she’s not better or more talented than a million others - it’s just how much they’re giving her this time. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/24 "2018-02-25T04:42:24Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > That’s the money she’s contracted to receive. It will be distributed amongst her team, her crew, and her band. It’s not how much she’s worth, she didn’t work any harder than another musician, she’s not better or more talented than a million others - it’s just how much they’re giving her this time. You do realize you are both using different and equally valid definitions of “worth”, right? Your definition is subjective and based on merit, **RickJay** ’s is objective and just equating economic value. In your opinion she may not be worth( merit )that amount of money, but objectively she is probably worth( in economic terms )what she is being paid. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/25 "2018-02-25T05:59:49Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > That’s the money she’s contracted to receive. It will be distributed amongst her team, her crew, and her band. It’s not how much she’s worth, she didn’t work any harder than another musician… How hard she works has nothing to do with the value of her time. An article of clothing does not “work” at all, but is worth something. A lesser known musician may work very hard, but they do not generate thousands of ticket sales a night. Whether or not she has to pay other people out of her pay also has nothing to do with the value of her time. The people paying her don’t care what she pays her agent or her hairstylist. If they contribute to the value of her time, well, maybe that’s why she gets a million bucks a show. Her time is worth what other people will pay her for it. Do you know how I know that? Because that’s how economic “worth” is defined. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/26 "2018-02-25T12:16:58Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > That’s the money she’s contracted to receive. It will be distributed amongst her team, her crew, and her band. It’s not how much she’s worth, she didn’t work any harder than another musician, she’s not better or more talented than a million others - it’s just how much they’re giving her this time. As a musician, I find this rhetorically reasonable, but kinda pointless. If I can pack that residency at $1 million a show, pay me, dammit. Folks are welcome to judge an artist’s relative quality, but she’s getting paid and I respect the heck out of that. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/27 "2018-02-25T14:04:49Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > That is of course the answer. She’s worth what the market will bear. Thanks Milton Friedman. I think what the OP is asking is whether paying Gaga $1M a show is profitable for the venue and if so, how? > [@RickJay](#): > > If she brings in $1.1 million a show, she absolutely is worth that much. Unless you can pay Ke$ha $500k to bring in $750k a show ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/28 "2018-02-25T16:58:07Z")
Body makeup and boots for all those mostly naked dancers (remember the old fashioned tux-and-top-hat dancing boys in the Mitzi Gaynor days) have to be factored in, not to mention the enormous coke expense for all those dozens of performers, lol. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/29 "2018-02-25T18:04:40Z")
\*\*Is Lady Gaga really worth a million dollars a show? \*\* > [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](#): > > Lady Gaga recently sealed a deal that will EARN HER an impressive $1 million per show. It’s set with 74 dates in MGM’s Park Theater beginning late 2018. > [Source](https://www.dumblittleman.com/things-to-do-in-las-vegas/) Good thing I saw what I capitalized before making a fool of myself lawnchairing again about “ticket prices these days!”. Sure - she works haaarrrd for the money, so I think she’s being treated perfectly right. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/30 "2018-02-25T20:06:51Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Unless you can pay Ke$ha $500k to bring in $750k a show Sure, we can get into the finer points of this sort of business decision. It is possible the folks who have hired Lady Gaga have made a business error, or could have hired a more profitable musician. Maybe Beyonce would have cost $2 million a show and earned them $5 million. My guess is though that if Gaga doesn’t get the big bux from this venue, she’ll get it elsewhere; I doubt this fee was just dreamt up out of this air. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/31 "2018-02-25T21:46:53Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Sure, we can get into the finer points of this sort of business decision. [_Variety_ article attempting to do just that:](http://variety.com/2017/music/news/lady-gaga-las-vegas-residency-1202646129/) > [@](#): > > On the Heels of Lady Gaga, the Economics of Las Vegas Residencies Reach New Highs > > The race to lock down Las Vegas’ highest-paying residency is heating up with Lady Gaga announcing a two-year engagement at the MGM Park Theater. According to two well-placed sources, Gaga is guaranteed just over a million dollars per show, and is committed to 74 appearances. Should all go well with ticket sales, she could extend that run, inching closer to the $100 million mark, a new — and record — threshold for the city and for even the biggest of current pop artists. Gaga stands to earn even more on merchandise sales — typically a 50/50 split with the venue — and VIP offerings. […] > > But industry insiders contend that the Gaga numbers don’t add up in a way that makes financial sense for MGM Resorts, the hotel and casino giant with a current valuation of over $30 billion. “At the very high range, an act might clear $500,000,” says one representative of major music artists who’s familiar with the economics of Vegas residencies. “And that’s at a complete sell-out.” Whether the act draws people to the hotel’s and casino’s bars and restaurants doesn’t get factored into such a talent buy. Rather, it’s a matter of ticket pricing and being able to offer a more affordable tier — or not. At the reported Gaga rate, that means a seat in the 5,200-capacity theater would cost the ticket buyer at least $200 just to clear Gaga’s take-home, a steep price, her production value notwithstanding. > > For comparison, tickets to Jennifer Lopez’s residency at the Axis Planet Hollywood range in price from $54 to $412. A recent three-night bow grossed $2.1 million, according to concert industry trade Pollstar, with the venue at 90% capacity and 11,408 in attendance. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/32 "2018-02-25T22:17:08Z")
**WordMan** and **Bo** , I always appreciate what both of you post about music. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/33 "2018-02-25T23:32:22Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Whatever. Liberace for a new generation. Over the top showmanship with serious musical ability underneath? Yeah, I can see the resemblance. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/34 "2018-02-26T00:30:21Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Sure, we can get into the finer points of this sort of business decision. It is possible the folks who have hired Lady Gaga have made a business error, or could have hired a more profitable musician. Maybe Beyonce would have cost $2 million a show and earned them $5 million. > > My guess is though that if Gaga doesn’t get the big bux from this venue, she’ll get it elsewhere; I doubt this fee was just dreamt up out of this air. It would be interesting to calculate “marginal Gaga” for a number of artists. That is to say, to what degree a venue would be more or less profitable by replacing an act with Lady Gaga. But yeah, I have no doubt they are making a ton of money. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/35 "2018-02-26T00:35:29Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > As a musician, I find this rhetorically reasonable, but kinda pointless. If I can pack that residency at $1 million a show, pay me, dammit. > > Folks are welcome to judge an artist’s relative quality, but she’s getting paid and I respect the heck out of that. This I definitely accept. Just don’t equate the money she’s being paid as her “worth”. I guess I’m being unreasonably picky about semantics, but I worry that we treat celebrities differently because of how much money they get paid, instead of what they actually do and who they are. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/36 "2018-02-26T00:59:53Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > This I definitely accept. Just don’t equate the money she’s being paid as her “worth”. > > I guess I’m being unreasonably picky about semantics, but I worry that we treat celebrities differently because of how much money they get paid, instead of what they actually do and who they are. I think the semantics of “worth” are exactly what you’re reacting to. And, yes, there is just a crazy amount of money being generated in entertainment and sports today. Is Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers “worth” the $20 million or so that the Packers paid him last year? From the standpoint of how much money the Packers make because they’re in the business of putting on football games, and that leads to a very large amount of income (they had [revenue of $441 million, and net income of $73 million, last year](http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-daily-news-story/article-1/Packers-financial-picture-remains-strong/2e738a02-516e-432e-9840-2d022a30595b)), then their players, particularly their most important player, should benefit from helping to create that income. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/37 "2018-02-26T01:27:02Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > This I definitely accept. Just don’t equate the money she’s being paid as her “worth”. > > I guess I’m being unreasonably picky about semantics, but I worry that we treat celebrities differently because of how much money they get paid, instead of what they actually do and who they are. But if someone else says that what she actually does is worth the amount she gets paid, and you reply that _no, that’s not so_ — well, what’s a guy like _me_ to do? If the other guy is right, then I figure I know what that means: she’s supposed to get paid that money, which is why the people who rightfully own it are willingly handing it to her. But if _you’re_ right, then: who’s supposed to get that money? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/38 "2018-02-26T02:11:56Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I guess I’m being unreasonably picky about semantics, but I worry that we treat celebrities differently because of how much money they get paid, instead of what they actually do and who they are. I don’t see how this follows. I am not proposing treating Lady Gaga differently as a person. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/39 "2018-02-26T03:31:32Z")
My point is we measure people’s worth by how much money they have, and we need to stop. Lady Gaga is not worth $1 million per show, she’s just getting paid that much. Does she deserve it? Arguably yes. Did she earn it? Arguably not. Is she worth that much? No. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lady-gaga-really-worth-a-million-dollars-a-show/809458/40 "2018-02-26T04:26:47Z")
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