Country star Zach Bryan is making his working class fans very happy while simultaneously making an economic statement towards Ticketmaster and the US government.
Ticketmaster, the ticket distribution company, is under fire with new accusations of “monopolizing” due to their merger with events promoter LiveNation back in 2010. Together, the sister-brands now control about 70% of all national ticket sales.
Loud conversation began surrounding Ticketmaster after thousands of Taylor Swift fans expressed their outrage over unreasonably priced tickets for her return to the stage. While some call it price gouging, Ticketmaster claims that the price is based on supply and demand. In fact, they’re using that statement as a defense in the multiple lawsuits being placed against them.
While many fans have called for their favorite artists to make a statement regarding this, only few have taken action. One of those few, country artist Zach Bryan, made headlines doing just that.
How is the new country star trying to make a change? He took matters, and tickets, into his own hands. Outraged by his fans paying upwards of $500 for his shows, he started by partnering with AXS. AXS is an American ticket outlet founded in 2011 and is the second largest entertainment promoter behind Live Nation Entertainment.
The “Something in the Orange” singer announced his 2023 “Burn Burn Burn” tour dates Thursday, including a May 26 concert at MVP Arena in Albany. He kicked off his protest by releasing a surprise live album titled “All my Homies Hate Ticketmaster”
When asked to make a statement on the matter, Bryan stated, “Seems like there is a massive issue with fair ticket prices to live shows lately. I have met kids at my shows who have paid upwards of four hundred bucks to be there and I’m done with it.
Tickets can be purchased through AXS and cannot be transferred or resold for profit. If a fan buys tickets and can no longer attend the show, tickets can only be sold on AXS for face value. Ticket pricing is between $40 – $100. AXS will go through the registration details in order to stop scalpers and resale price gouging.
On top of the affordable pricing, Zach Bryan wanted to make sure that the opportunity of coming to his shows was equal for everyone. He implemented a raffle system in order to be able to randomly select those who could purchase tickets. Those who wish to buy tickets registered in January and will be contacted through email if their name is selected.
Zach Bryan is setting a new precedent by showing his fans that he appreciates their overwhelming support and putting actions behind his words. He has started the conversation and I, as a fan, hope that other artists follow suit.