Neil Young is taking a stand against overpriced concert tickets. After watching The Cure’s Robert Smith wage war on Ticketmaster’s controversial pricing, Young has decided to eliminate platinum tickets from his future tours.
Posting on his Neil Young Archives website, the legendary singer-songwriter shared an article about Smith’s battle against sky-high ticket prices and dynamic pricing, which can drive costs even higher for fans. In that article, Smith condemned the system as being “just driven by greed.”
Young admitted that Smith’s efforts made him rethink his own approach to ticketing.
“It’s a story that really helped me realize I have a choice to make and can make a difference for my music-loving friends,” he wrote, before announcing his decision: “Very soon, platinum tickets will no longer be available for my shows.”
Platinum tickets—typically sold at premium prices based on demand—were originally introduced to Young’s concerts as a way to deter scalpers.
He explained, “My management and agent have always tried to cover my back on the road, getting me the best deals they could.
They have tried to protect me and the fans from scalpers who buy the best tickets and resell them at huge increases for their own profits.”
However, Young came to an uncomfortable realization:
“Ticketmaster’s high-priced Platinum tickets were introduced to the areas where scalpers were buying the most tickets for resale. The money went to me. That did not feel right.”
With this move, Young joins a growing number of artists fighting against the soaring cost of live music. While it’s unclear how this will be enforced—especially since his upcoming Hyde Park show still offers a more expensive “Golden Circle” option—Young’s statement signals a commitment to making his concerts more affordable.
For fans frustrated by rising ticket prices, Young’s move is a refreshing step in the right direction.
