Ticketmaster To Issue Partial Refunds To Olivia Dean Fans After Criticism Over Resale Prices
Olivia Dean is calling out the concert ticketing world — and this time, it’s making an impact. The singer blasted Ticketmaster, AXS, Live Nation and AEG after fans found resale tickets for her North American shows going for more than 14 times their original cost, with some prices climbing above $1,000. She described the situation as “disgusting,” “vile,” and part of an “exploitative and unregulated space.”
After days of public pressure, Ticketmaster and AXS have agreed to give fans partial refunds to cover the extra money they paid to resellers on Ticketmaster. The companies will also cap all future resale prices for Dean’s North American tour at face value. Ticketmaster said it is already in the process of “refunding fans for any markup they already paid to resellers on Ticketmaster.”
Michael Rapino, CEO of Live Nation Entertainment, said the company supports Dean’s push to keep shows affordable, adding, “We share Olivia’s desire to keep live music accessible and ensure fans have the best access to affordable tickets.” He also acknowledged that other resale platforms aren’t required to follow the same rules, but said Live Nation wants to “do better.”
Dean, one of the UK’s fastest-rising artists, says this fight goes beyond her own tour. She insists “every artist and their team should be granted the option to cap resale at face value ahead of on sale,” calling it essential for keeping concerts open to everyone. She thanked fans for sticking with her and said she can’t wait to see “all you real humans at the show.”
In a follow-up message, Dean said the team has spent a decade building live shows that feel meaningful and safe, even if they aren’t profitable. She added that ticket touts “steal from artists and they steal from fans,” creating chaos and widening inequality in the process. She urged artists to challenge the system, saying, “There is always space to ask why and it is always your right to say no!”
The UK government recently announced plans to make it illegal to resell tickets for more than face value across concerts, sports and other live events. The move follows calls from major artists like Coldplay and Dua Lipa, who want to end what they described as “extortionate and pernicious” pricing.
Ticketmaster says fewer than 20% of Dean’s primary tickets ended up on resale, and stresses the demand came mostly from genuine fans rather than bulk buyers. Refunds for those who did overpay are scheduled to be processed by December 10th.
Dean’s North American tour kicks off in San Francisco in July and wraps in Austin in August — this time, with resale caps in place.
