Neil Young States ‘Concert Touring Is Broken’

Neil Young took aim at Ticketmaster for the high prices fans pay for concert tickets in a post on his website entitled “Concert Touring Is Broken.” Young noted, “It’s over. The old days are gone” after pointing out Ticketmaster fees for some concerts are at 30%.

“I get letters blaming me for $3,000.00 tickets for a benefit I am doing,” the legendary rocker wrote. “That money does not go to me or the benefit. Artists have to worry about ripped off fans blaming them for Ticketmaster add-ons and scalpers.” Neil Young will perform at anall-star benefit concert in support of Autism Speaks on April 22 in Los Angeles.

“Concert tours are no longer fun. Concert tours not what they were,” Young added. He went on to include an article penned by journalist Ananya Bhattacharya for Quartz detailing The Cure‘s fight to keep ticket prices reasonable for their upcoming North American tour.

Bhattacharya’s article pointed out the fees were higher than the face value of The Cure tickets in some instances. “I am sickened as you all are by today’s Ticketmaster fees debacle,” The Cure frontman Robert Smith tweeted on March 15. “To be clear: the artist has no way to limit them. I have been asking how they are justified. If I get anything coherent by way of an answer I will let you all know.”

Ticketmaster acknowledged the situation with Smith tweeting the following day regarding partial refunds arranged for ticket purchasers. “After further conversation, Ticketmaster have agreed with us that many of the fees being charged were unduly high, and as a gesture of goodwill have offered a $10 per ticket refund to all verified fan accounts for lowest ticket price (‘ltp’) transactions,” Robert Smith tweeted.

Smith added, “And a $5 ticket refund to all verified fan accounts for all other ticket price transactions, for all Cure shows at all venues; if you already bought a ticket you will get an automatic refund. All tickets on sale tomorrow will incur lower fees.”

Neil Young last toured in 2019.