Olivia Dean Criticizes Ticketing System Over Inequality and Exploitation

Staff Report: PNN

Singer Olivia Dean has described the ticketing industry as “exploitative” and “full of inequality” after arranging refunds for some of her fans. This came when some resale tickets for her North American tour were being sold at up to 14 times the original price, exceeding $1,000 (£750).

Last week, Dean wrote an open letter calling the resale process “abhorrent” and “disrespectful,” urging companies to “do better.” On Wednesday, Ticketmaster announced that resale prices for Dean’s tour would be capped, and refunds were being processed for fans who overpaid.

Michael Rapino, CEO of Ticketmaster’s parent company Live Nation Entertainment, stated: “We agree with Olivia that live music should be accessible to all, and fans should have tickets at reasonable prices. While we cannot force other marketplaces to follow artist resale preferences, we are setting an example.”

Dean responded on Instagram: “The secondary ticket market is exploitative and unregulated. As artists, we have a responsibility to protect people and our community. Every artist and their team should have the opportunity to cap resale prices, ensuring live music remains accessible to all. Thank you for your patience, and we’ll see real fans at the shows soon.”

Following this, the UK government announced price caps on resales for concerts, theater, comedy, sports, and other live events, prompted by letters from major artists like Coldplay and Dua Lipa calling to stop excessive and unfair pricing.

Dean added: “We take all our work very seriously. Live events are sacred spaces where fans can lose themselves for an hour. Capping resale prices is a fair duty. Scalpers steal from artists and fans, creating inequality and fear. We aim to build a fair secondary market responsibly.”

This move has raised new hope among artists and fans that live music will become more accessible and equitable.