“can newer acts like Justin Timberlake or Taylor Swift command fees like that?”
I don’t know but Swift can fill Giants stadium. That ain’t bad. It seems to me that there aren’t as many acts that can do that as there once were.
Before the Beatles, bands didn’t play that large of venues. However, I’d be hardpressed to say that earlier acts/performers weren’t as talented as Taylor Swift, etc.
The “big event” rally show is something I don’t connect with. If you go to them with your friends, half of your memories are the people you went with that night. However, if you go alone the shows are a remote experience.
The Beatles and then Woodstock changed the music business. Bill Graham wanted bigger shows with one performance a night instead of having to turn a room and sell tickets for two performances (and pay the band more).
If a band could “only” sell 3,000 tickets, they weren’t considered as worthy...