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Olivia Dean, the Grammy-nominated Best New Artist, has openly criticized the high concert ticket prices of Ticketmaster and Live Nation, thus helping the fans to win refunds. During a candid conversation with Gayle King, Dean made her point very clear, saying she wanted to make live music accessible to everyone and not just to the rich. Along with this move, she has received much support, and she has even opened the discussion about the price issues in the live events sector.
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The conversation, which was part of The Soho Sessions—a fundraising event for the Grammy Museum—went straight to the main issue of the music lovers. Dean was very bold. She recounted having seen a video of a mother who was closely connected to her album but, sadly, could not afford a ticket. She pointed out that that was the moment she felt the system was ‘full of unfairness’ and she would fight to change it.
And indeed, there was a change. The result? Ticketmaster refunded everyone—the total amount that Dean mentioned, rather casually, was “around two million dollars or so.” Not too shabby for a single day of work, to be more specific, a single irritated post sent while on an airplane. She openly confessed that she was not even counting how it would impact the business; she was just irritated. After telling her manager that she was going to challenge the ticketing giant, she hit send just as her flight took off. By the time she landed, it was already the news.
The online response has mainly been supportive; fans and viewers have been commending her for her integrity. One user seemed to be shocked, “It’s incredible that not only she uses her pen to write amaaaaazing songs, but also to change things like that!” Another one just declared, “A true class act and brilliant talent! We are finally making the right people famous.” There was a strong consensus among the public that Dean was ‘an artist for the people’.
Many of the ticket buyers brought up the same issue. “Gosh, concert tickets have become so expensive, what a great thing she is doing,” one person commented. Another fellow commented: “I really can’t believe how £££££ has skyrocketed to see a concert now – u have to take out a mortgage.” There is no doubt that this problem is universal as it affects music lovers everywhere.
But it was the harshest and most powerful responses that came from those who were a bit direct at impacted by Dean’s support. An anonymous user reported his or her secret win, “This is great… I got the refund notice and it made my day. Very good and persuasive. I wish all musicians would support their fans.” The direct result—money back in a fan’s pocket—shows that it really pays off to speak up.
Of course, the debate included the other stars that are also on their tours. Some comments hinted that other artists should take the same route as Dean. “I need Beyoncé to follow her example, we could really use that,” one comment was jokingly saying. Another one tagged Beyoncé and Taylor Swift directly: “y’all need to take some notes.” Another person was rather blunt, “And Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift did nothing!” This compares that by taking this stance, Dean has become the type of industry figure who is willing to go against the established forces for her audience’s sake though the latter has enjoyed the most support.
One of Dean’s strongest arguments was that the core issue was not just about the refunds but also the core value. “I want the live music to be low-priced,” she said without hesitation. “It should not be a double torturing cut and an arm and a leg.” In her fight, she is resurrecting the notion of music as a public good, a piece of commonality and not a luxury that only a handful of people can enjoy. The universality of her message with the new album’s target audience—the theme of love and the longing for connection—further strengthens her case against the barrier of high-priced tickets.
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Olivia Dean’s actions are not limited to merely feuding with the stars; rather it is a very small but significant. They kill the unjust system where monopolies exist and rule by overcoming a blockade of public support and acceptance. It is a sign that the power of a person in any situation can be turned into an instant, tangible benefit for the underprivileged. Dean is not coming—well, to be precise, she is tumbling—into the Grammy season branding this issue as yet another layer of her public persona: not just a gifted musician, but also an activist who is really putting her money where her mouth is, or to be accurate, putting the money of the ticket giant back into her fans’ pockets. The industry may need to be cautious about what they say because they just might be devouring their own any more.
This story originally appeared on Celebrityinsider
