Ticketmaster has responded to criticism from singer Olivia Dean regarding the high prices of resale tickets for her upcoming tour. The company announced it will cap resale prices and refund fans who paid markups.
Olivia Dean's Impact
Olivia Dean, known for her song "Man I Need", publicly criticized Ticketmaster and other ticketing platforms for allowing resale tickets to be sold at exorbitant prices. Some tickets for her North American tour were listed for over $1,000, significantly higher than the original face value.
Ticketmaster's Response
Ticketmaster stated that it supports Dean's desire to keep live music accessible and ensure fans have affordable tickets. The company vowed to cap all future ticket resale prices for "The Art of Loving Live" tour on its site and refund fans for any markup they already paid to resellers.
- Ticketmaster has activated a Face Value Exchange for the tour.
- Future ticket sales on its site are capped at the original price paid, with no added fees.
- Fans who purchased resale tickets on Ticketmaster's website will receive partial refunds.
Industry-Wide Concerns
Dean described the concert ticketing business as "exploitative" and rife with "inequality". She urged the music industry to ensure live music remains accessible for all. Other artists and industry observers have echoed her concerns about the secondary ticket market.
This move by Ticketmaster could set a precedent for other artists and ticketing platforms to address the issue of high resale ticket prices and ensure that fans can access live music at reasonable costs.