World-renowned Pop singer, Harry Styles has recently announced his latest Tour dates for new concert, Together, Together. Whilst his tickets went on sale last week, excitement quickly turned to frustration as fans watched prices skyrocket within minutes. Some tickets reached over £700, sparking a debate about whether live music is becoming unaffordable.
In the past 5 years, concert ticket prices have increased by 80.5%. Today, the average ticket price is roughly £105.60. Yet in 2021, tickets were roughly £58.50.
Pricing for the UK leg of the tour is roughly £144.65 for general standing, and £279.45 for premium standing. However, VIP and premium packages bring these prices even higher, with tickets costing from £468.85 to £725.45. Although these prices include extras like early entry, VIP lounge access and exclusive merchandise, fans are shaming Styles’ for his astronomical pricing.
The pricey tickets have led to extreme criticism online, with many fans taking to social media to call the costs of the concert ‘unaffordable’ and ‘unrealistic’, breaking the tour’s theme of inclusivity. Former bandmate, Zayn Malik, made a comment alluding to the ticket prices during his own performance. Malik lightheartedly said that he hoped ‘the tickets prices weren’t too high!’.
However, experts have noted that high ticket prices are part of a long-term trend in the live music industry, driven by inflation, dynamic pricing, and rising production costs. In recent years, many other major tours have faced similar backlash over accessibility, with Taylor Swift’s ‘Era’s Tour’ making over 2 billion, and ticket sales costing similar to Styles’.
Critics are arguing that many fans, especially younger audiences, are being priced out of seeing their favorite artists live. Styles announced his upcoming tour on the 22nd of January, with tickets going on sale a week later. Despite the backlash, initial ticket demand remains strong, with high numbers reported in the presale queues for many venues.
As the general sale for the Together, Together tour continues, and more dates are added, Styles’ or his team have not yet publicly commented further on the pricing controversy.
