Controversy Erupts After Sky-High Resale Listings
Ticketmaster has begun issuing partial refunds to fans of British singer Olivia Dean after she publicly criticized major ticketing companies for allowing resellers to list tickets to her North American tour at more than 14 times their original price. The tour sold out within minutes on 21 November, and soon afterward, tickets appeared on secondary marketplaces for over $1,000.
In a strongly worded Instagram post directed at Ticketmaster, Live Nation and AEG Presents, Dean wrote: “You are providing a disgusting service … The prices at which you’re allowing tickets to be re-sold is vile and completely against our wishes. Live music should be affordable and accessible.” Her comments sparked widespread support from fans and fellow artists frustrated by longstanding issues in the ticketing industry.
Ticketmaster Responds and Promises Refunds
Ticketmaster initially stated that it supports artists’ ability to control the terms of ticket sales and resales. It then committed to capping all resale prices on its platform at face value. The company also confirmed it is “in the process of refunding fans for any markup they already paid to resellers on Ticketmaster.”
Michael Rapino, CEO of parent company Live Nation Entertainment, added: “We share Olivia’s desire to keep live music accessible and ensure fans have the best access to affordable tickets. While we can’t require other marketplaces to honour artists’ resale preferences, we echo Olivia’s call to ‘do better’ and have taken steps to lead by example.”
Dean Urges Artists to Take Back Control
Dean continued the conversation in a follow-up post, urging fellow artists to recognize their influence when negotiating with ticketing partners. “Touts steal from artists and they steal from fans,” she wrote. “Capping resale at face value is your right … We are often made to feel we don’t have a choice but there is always space to ask why and it is always your right to say no!”
She credited the ticketing platform Dice with providing education about the “complexities and corruption” of the industry and emphasized her commitment to working with partners that prioritize fairness and transparency.
Government Crackdown and Dean’s Growing Influence
The dispute comes as the UK government prepares to outlaw the resale of tickets above face value across live entertainment and sporting events. The measure follows lobbying efforts by major artists including Coldplay and Dua Lipa, who argue that inflated secondary markets undermine fan access.
Dean enters this debate at a moment of rapid career ascent. She is the UK’s biggest breakout act of the year, with four singles in the Top 20 — including a duet with Sam Fender — and her second album The Art of Loving has spent eight weeks in the Top 5 after debuting at No. 1. Her stance on ticketing adds yet another voice to a growing movement demanding a more equitable live music ecosystem.
