Neil Young Abandons Platinum Ticket Sales Amid Growing Concerns
In a recent update on his official website, renowned musician Neil Young announced his decision to cease the sale of platinum-priced tickets for his upcoming concerts, condemning the practice as detrimental to the concert-going experience globally. This move is part of a broader critique of unfair ticketing practices affecting fans and artists alike.
Inspired by Robert Smith’s Stand
Young’s choice echoes a sentiment expressed by Robert Smith of The Cure, who denounced platinum and dynamic ticketing as a “greedy scam” during the band’s North American tour in 2023. This stance emphasizes that artists can reject such pricing strategies even if it means sacrificing a portion of their ticket revenue.
Realizations and Reflections
Young reflected on how Smith’s stance enlightened him about the options available to musicians and the impact they can have on their fanbase. “It helped me realize I have a choice to make and can make a difference for my music-loving friends,” he shared. Previously, he had implemented platinum ticket pricing as a strategy to combat scalpers profiting from inflated secondary market sales. While these tickets directed additional funds to him, he ultimately felt uncomfortable with this approach, stating, “The money went to me. That didn’t feel right.”
A Legacy of Principles
This decision aligns with Young’s history of making principled business choices. In 2022, he removed his music from Spotify in protest against misinformation being spread by Joe Rogan regarding vaccines, although he returned to the platform a year later.
The Pushback Against Dynamic Pricing
The issue of platinum and dynamically priced tickets continues to frustrate concert-goers as ticket prices spiral upwards. Notably, the iconic band Oasis faced considerable backlash from their UK fans when they announced the use of dynamic pricing for their eagerly awaited 2025 reunion tour. Following the ticket launch, Oasis acknowledged that “the execution of the plan failed to meet expectations.”
Artist Control Over Ticket Sales
Many artists opt for higher ticket prices out of concern for the profits being siphoned off by scalpers, but they are also exploring alternatives like face value ticket exchanges. These exchanges allow fans who can no longer attend an event to resell their tickets at the original price, reducing the chances of gouging and aiding fellow music lovers.
A Call to Action for Fans
In concluding his message to supporters, Young encouraged proactive purchasing, advising fans to “buy aggressively when the tickets come out,” indicating that waiting could lead to higher prices on secondary markets.