Ariana Grande Fights Ticketmaster Over Reselling Issues

Ariana Grande isn’t letting Ticketmaster get away with its usual antics. In recent years, the ticket-buying process has been brutal. It got especially torturous, post-pandemic, when artists finally started touring again. Harry Styles’ Love On Tour was one of the first concerts that fans had a hard time snatching tickets for.

However, things really got out of hand during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour sale. Swift put out a statement, later causing the Department of Justice to build a case against Ticketmaster. However, nothing ever came of it, and fans are still dealing with the same frustration when buying tickets.

Ariana Grande Disapproves Of Ticket Reselling

Unfortunately, ticket sales for Ariana Grande’s recent Eternal Sunshine tour followed the all-too-familiar pattern: many seats were snapped up by resellers instead of real fans. Grande quickly made it clear she wasn’t OK with it and promised she’s working to fix the situation.

In an Instagram story, Grande told fans she’s “incredibly bothered” by the way face-value tickets were quickly bought up and listed on Ticketmaster and other reselling sites for astronomical prices. Grande revealed she’s been “fighting for a solution” during her free time on set filming Focker-In-Law, and hopes she can find a way to get more tickets for her fans instead of the resellers.

After Grande’s tickets went on sale, fans took to social media to share their disappointment about how quickly everything sold out. Due to the pandemic and the singer focusing on her acting career, Grande has not toured since 2019. When she announced she would be going on the road again, fans were ecstatic.

However, they also expected buying tickets would be a whole ordeal, considering how difficult it has been in the past few years. Fans who have had no problem buying tickets to her previous concerts suddenly found themselves devastated not to be able to see their favorite artist in person.

Artists Like Chappell Roan Have Taken A Stand, Too

Grande’s efforts are greatly appreciated and show that she’s just as bothered by the current ticket-selling experience as her fans are. However, she isn’t the only artist who has taken a stand against Ticketmaster.

For her recent tour, Chappell Roan opted out of using Ticketmaster, instead selling tickets to her shows on AXS. Shawn Mendes chose the same platform to list his tickets on, and both artists are set to perform at venues like Forrest Hills Stadium in New York, rather than large arenas.

Both artists have also utilized special systems that get tickets straight to fans. For Roan’s concerts, fans were allowed to sign up for the shows they wanted to attend, and they were then alerted if they got the opportunity to purchase. This prevented bots from being able to snag all the tickets before fans got a chance.

The problem is, while the New York-based venue has a partnership with AXS, most other venues are under contract with Live Nation, Ticketmaster’s parent company. Artists like Grande, Taylor Swift, and other long-time pop stars have such massive followings that playing at a smaller venue like Forrest Hills Stadium would cause even bigger problems in terms of getting enough tickets to fans.

Swift has become so popular that her tour dates typically only include stadium shows. However, some others have taken a stance against resellers by canceling all orders on ticket resale sites. Artists who chose this are Oasis, Billie Eilish, Ed Sheeran, and Pearl Jam.

These artists prioritize their fans and understand that just because they’re making millions of dollars with their career, it doesn’t mean their fans have that kind of money to spend. They also aren’t afraid of the resellers or the consequences of standing up to them. They know how much influence they hold, and they have no problem using it for the better.

It’s About Time Artists Stood Up To Reselling Sites

A still from the Taylor Swift |The Eras Tour (Taylor's Version). 2024 — A still from the Taylor Swift |The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version). 2024

The ticket-selling industry has been out of control in recent years, and it’s long overdue for artists to start defending their fans. Especially in scenarios where an artist is touring for the first time in years, it means a lot for their fans to get to see them in concert.

However, they should not have to spend thousands of dollars per ticket to do so. While the option to cancel tickets on resale websites is the strongest decision so far, Ticketmaster has its own reselling method that is also screwing fans over.

On top of this, there is a dynamic pricing option that raises the prices of tickets depending on how many people are on the site trying to buy them. While Grande and Swift opted out of dynamic pricing, unfortunately, Oasis did use it, along with Harry Styles and Bruce Springsteen, among others.

It is unfortunate that it has gotten to this point, but Ticketmaster will only keep taking advantage of buyers if artists keep allowing it to happen. At this point, the responsibility to put an end to the current market falls on their shoulders. Hopefully, Ariana Grande will be able to find a solution that benefits her fans, and other artists will follow suit.