Word’s out: Harry Styles has just announced he is touring after many years, so it is safe to say the fans are readying their outfits and their inner fangirl in preparation to scream his songs. Fans are eager to see him live after his most recent music hiatus. TikTok was flooded with Directioners and Harry Styles fans filled with excitement as he announced his “Together, Together” tour that will happen from May to December. His last tour, “Love on Tour,” started in 2021 and lasted 22 months, after which he took an extensive break where he disappeared from the spotlight altogether. It is no wonder why he needed a break: his tour had seven legs starting in Las Vegas, Nevada and ending in Reggio Emilia, Italy. This new tour will include songs from his new album, “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally” with major stops including London, New York and Melbourne.
All the excitement died down when the pre-sale revealed outrageous prices… and that wasn’t even the worst of it. Prices skyrocketed, with fans feeling defeated when they had to choose between the opportunity of a lifetime or making their rent. Many consulted social media, admitting that they’d bought tickets before looking at the price just so they could secure a seat at the venue. It is safe to say fans found both the prices and process insulting. They feel as though this situation shows Ticketmaster’s overall greed and that dynamic pricing should be regulated.
The real question is: if live music is for everyone, how are these prices ethical? Music and experiences shouldn’t be considered a luxury experience, and celebrities should be involved in fighting for capped prices. Some tickets were hitting over $1,000 even for nosebleed seats, and this was even before travel expenses and accommodations. Fans considered boycotting, with some calling him “Greedy Styles.” Yet with the tour selling out and having 11.5 million presale sign-ups, it is unlikely that anything will result from the backlash.
While many people blame Ticketmaster, it is clear that artists have the power to stick up for their fans. After all, without their approval, no tickets will be sold. Olivia Dean is a strong example of this, and was praised by Trevor Noah when hosting the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, not just for being nominated for Best New Artist but also for her kindness and thoughtfulness. He recognized her for fighting Ticketmaster to prevent resellers from ripping off fans. She was successful in forcing them to cap resale prices at face value and issue partial refunds to fans. After a 1300% price spike due to a typo, she championed affordable, accessible tickets, urging the industry to curb predatory scalping. She said she thinks live music should be affordable and not something “you can only enjoy if you have a lot of money.” Dean further stated that concert tickets are overpriced and “shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg,” explaining that this view was shaped by a video from a single mother who loved her album but couldn’t afford a ticket. Dean felt that this was exactly the kind of person who should have been able to attend her shows.
Ultimately, Ticketmaster agreed to activate a Face Value Exchange for her tour, capping all future resale tickets at their original price. Fans who purchased overpriced tickets in the first round of chaotic presale fans were promised refunds for the difference. This begs the question: why couldn’t Harry Styles have done the same?
In the end, I think artists like Harry Styles should stand up for the fans who helped them succeed. While blaming Ticketmaster is easy, real change comes when artists use their influence to push for fair practices, as Olivia Dean did. If more big performers refused to accept high prices and limited access, it would send a strong message that live music should unite people, not separate them by income. Until then, the joy and connection of concerts may become a privilege instead of a shared celebration of music. This is disappointing for an artist whose image has always emphasized love, inclusivity and togetherness.