Taylor Swift, one of the world’s biggest pop stars, has recently made headlines over the ticket prices and availability for her upcoming Eras Tour. There has been massive demand for tickets, with fans complaining of exorbitant prices and lack of availability even during presales. Swift herself has acknowledged the issues and asked Ticketmaster to address them. This article will examine Swift’s statements on the matter, what fans and critics are saying, how Ticketmaster has responded, and what it all means for the state of the music industry and touring today.
What has Taylor said about ticket prices and availability?
In a statement posted to her Instagram Stories on November 18, 2022, Swift expressed frustration over the situation:
“It’s really difficult for me to trust an outside entity with these relationships and loyalties, and excruciating for me to just watch mistakes happen with no recourse.”
She went on to say she is “not going to make excuses for anyone” because her team has been “assured multiple times” that Ticketmaster could handle this kind of demand.
This wasn’t the first time Swift has called out issues with ticketing and availability for her tours. During her Reputation Stadium Tour in 2018, she used a verified fan presale system to try and get tickets directly to her biggest supporters and cut down on scalpers buying up tickets. However, there were still complaints from fans about high costs and lack of availability.
Clearly, Swift is unhappy with the Eras Tour ticket roll-out and feels her fans have been let down. She has placed at least part of the blame on Ticketmaster for not being able to meet the massive demand.
What are fans and critics saying?
Many of Swift’s fans have expressed outrage online over the lack of tickets and sky-high costs. Some top resale prices have been seen at over $20,000 per ticket, with even nosebleed seats going for $1,000 or more.
On Twitter, hashtags like #TaylorswiftTixGate and #TicketmasterSwift have been trending for days, with fans wanting accountability. Some feel Ticketmaster has given preference to scalpers and bots over real fans in presales. Others blame dynamic pricing which drives costs up for high-demand shows.
Critics have accused Ticketmaster of being a monopoly in the ticketing industry that can charge exorbitant fees and get away with poor customer service. Some feel the high demand and low supply of Swift’s tour dates have allowed Ticketmaster to profit enormously.
Both fans and critics seem to agree Swift is not to blame for the botched rollout, pointing the finger squarely at Ticketmaster instead. But many believe Swift has an opportunity here to advocate for more transparency and fairness in ticketing.
How has Ticketmaster responded?
Ticketmaster has acknowledged there were issues with the Eras Tour onsales, blaming it on record demand and a massive attack from bots.
According to their statement:
“However, the staggering number of bot attacks as well as fans who didn’t have invite codes drove unprecedented traffic on our site, resulting in 3.5 billion total system requests – 4x our previous peak.”
They claim over 2 million tickets were sold on Nov. 15, the most ever for an onsale. Ticketmaster also states that 94% of verified fans got tickets during presales.
In response to the criticism, Ticketmaster said they are working to improve the experience and get tickets to as many Swift fans as possible. They will release more tickets over time leading up to shows.
However, many are still skeptical of Ticketmaster’s explanation and feel they haven’t taken enough accountability. The bot attack explanation has been questioned, as Ticketmaster has not provided evidence it occurred at the scale they claim.
What does this mean for touring and ticketing?
The controversy surrounding Swift’s Eras Tour ticketing shows that there are still major issues in the industry that negatively impact artists and fans. Despite years of complaints, it appears Ticketmaster still does not have adequate safeguards in place to stop scalpers, bots, and dynamic pricing run amok.
Artists wield tremendous power through their tours. Swift and other major artists may start more actively pressuring the ticketing industry for reforms by withholding tours or demanding more artist and fan friendly policies.
There seems to be growing government scrutiny of ticketing monopolies like Ticketmaster and their pricing practices. Legal action or investigations could occur to determine if they are abusing their position in the marketplace. More transparency and oversight of ticketing practices may be initiated.
Ultimately, the debacle with Swift’s tour could be a catalyst for real change in an industry that has resisted it for a long time. Her speaking out so publicly shines a light on shady practices that fans have complained about forever. Ironically, the massive demand for Swift’s tour also demonstrates her incredible popularity and ability to potentially fix a broken system. Time will tell if artists and fans demanding fair access and pricing will finally be heard.
Swift’s Tour By The Numbers
Tour Dates | Stadium Capacity | Average Ticket Price |
---|---|---|
March 17 – Glendale, AZ | 63,400 | $845 |
March 25 – Las Vegas, NV | 65,000 | $926 |
April 1 – Arlington, TX | 80,000 | $772 |
April 15 – Tampa, FL | 65,000 | $343 |
Some key facts about Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour:
- 52 dates announced so far in U.S. stadiums
- Over 1.5 million tickets sold in presales
- Projected to be highest grossing tour of 2023
- Could break the record for highest grossing tour of all time
Key Fan Complaints About Swift’s Tour
Here are some of the biggest complaints that fans have had about getting tickets for Swift’s tour:
High prices
- Nosebleed seats selling for over $1,000 before fees
- Lower bowl spots going for $2,000-$3,000 or more
- Dynamic or surge pricing results in astronomical costs
Lack of ticket availability
- Tickets immediately sell out during presales
- Fans wait hours in queues and get zero tickets
- Resale sites filled with tickets minutes after onsale
Scalpers and unfair access
- Bots and scalpers seem to snap up bulk of inventory
- Legitimate fans get priced out of good seats
- Code sharing allows non-fans to access presales
How Ticketmaster Has Historically Controlled Ticketing
Ticketmaster has long dominated the primary marketplace for tickets in the US and other countries. Here are some of the tactics they have used over the years to control such a large share of ticketing:
- Exclusive deals with major venues and promoters to be sole ticketing provider
- Acquiring secondary market ticket sites like GetMeIn and Seatwave
- Official ticket resale through NFL Ticket Exchange, NBA Ticket Exchange etc.
- Requiring artists touring with LiveNation to use Ticketmaster for ticketing
- Locking fans into Ticketmaster for aftermarket exchange using Verified Fan
Critics argue these tactics stifle competition, allow Ticketmaster to charge very high fees, and offer worse service/support. Fans and artists have limited choice in ticket providers.
The recent debacle with Swift’s onsale has led to renewed scrutiny of Ticketmaster’s dominance in the industry. There may be a push for more oversight, transparency, and anti-trust measures when it comes to ticketing behemoths like Ticketmaster.
Conclusion
The chaos surrounding ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has laid bare many of the lingering issues that plague the live music ticketing industry. Fans want fair access and pricing, while artists want good experiences for their loyal supporters. So far, Ticketmaster has born the brunt of criticism for their handling of the onsales and lack of safeguards against scalpers or unreasonable costs.
While Ticketmaster maintains high demand is to blame, Swift and others will likely pressure for changes and reforms moving forward. Artists have tremendous power through touring and fans are making their voices heard loud and clear. Ironically, the runaway success of Swift’s tour has highlighted just how broken the current systems are. However, it also demonstrates the power artists and fans wield to effect change. The debacle could spark meaningful reform in how ticketing operates if that collective power is harnessed. Swift has opened the door to possible evolution in ticketing – time will tell if the industry is ready to walk through.