Rag’n’Bone Man is calling for artists to do more in the face of dynamic pricing and rising concert costs.
The Human hitmaker, also known as Rory Graham, spoke to us as part of our Glasgow Times Investigates series Priced Out.
The Sussex star said a conversation needs to be had amongst artists to get the ball of change rolling – for the better.
The 39-year-old said: “I think artists need to get back in control a little bit and talk about how we cap (concert costs) somehow.
“It’s a conversation we have all got to have.
“We have to talk between us about how we sell tickets in the future because it’s not cool for people to pay that much money for concerts.
“I don’t know where to go with it right now, but as artists, I feel it our duty to change that narrative and get involved.”
It comes after ticket prices for numerous artists visiting Glasgow and the UK have sold at eye-watering levels in recent years and months.
We previously reported that tickets for the likes of Stevie Nicks at the OVO Hydro were £400.70 for two, and fans of Billie Eilish claimed they spent £87 for a ticket to sit at level 3 of the Hydro. While others claimed they paid up to £150 for a ticket.
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But the most recent case of dynamic pricing driving out fans is, of course, Oasis.
After the shock announcement that the iconic 90s band would reunite and tour around the UK next year, fans were originally told tickets would be £148.
But, after most people queued for hours on end, the price ended up being around £300 for standing and £180 for sitting, according to multiple sources.
We spoke to Lightning Bolt singer Jake Bugg about the matter a few weeks ago.
He said: “It is preying on people’s desires to see their favourite artists. I just don’t understand how people get away with it, to be honest.
“Music is about the fans and when they are getting priced out, it just doesn’t seem fair at all.
“If fans can’t afford to see their favourite artist, something just doesn’t sit right with me about that.”
Rory had similar sentiments as he opened-up about his own experiences with the issue.
“It’s really sad when you’re selling tickets for your gig for £35 or whatever it is and you see someone has forked out £200 to buy them from another company,” Rory said.
He continued: “I don’t want anyone paying that much for tickets to my gig.
“But I think sometimes from the ticket buyer’s perspective they think that you’re getting that money, or you are part of the reason why the tickets have become that expensive and that’s obviously not the case.”
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Rory added that as an artist, dynamic pricing is a particularly hard concept to swallow in the face of the ongoing cost of living and other financial struggles.
He explained: “A lot of people are struggling at the moment.
“For them to go to a gig is a big thing and why should they have to pay that much?”
You can check out all of our Glasgow Times Investigates series' HERE
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