It’s truly been a pop girly summer and I’m here for it. Charli XCX’s Brat not only gave us iconic hits – and is now nominated for the Mercury Prize – but she’s also kicked off a Brat green summer, which even the presumptive US Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, is now joining in with. Chappell Roan’s songs are constantly playing in my head. As is Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso. Griff’s debut album rocketed into the top five of the album charts last week. Rachel Chinouriri also released her debut record this year and is the support act for Carpenter’s European leg of her tour. And Taylor Swift is currently touring her groundbreaking Eras tour in Europe.

Pop is certainly back with a bang, and I couldn’t be happier, but there is one thing that’s really angering many fans – including me. And that’s the price of tour tickets.

The cost of tickets has been a longstanding conversation over the years in the musical world but with the introduction of dynamic pricing by Ticketmaster, this has changed a lot. This new pricing system alters the price of tickets based on demand, so the more popular an artist, the more expensive tickets for their shows will be. We’ve seen exactly this happen with tickets for Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish’s shows and now, this week, with Sabrina Carpenter’s 2025 tour.

After releasing a couple of huge hits – Espresso and Please, Please, Please – and supporting Taylor Swift on the Eras tour, Carpenter has built up a huge fan base, especially among young girls and women. As this is her first headline global tour, fans were excited to get the chance to see the artist perform at her own show. But due to the dynamic pricing system, ticket prices quickly rocketed to triple figures. There were even fans sharing on social media that nosebleed and restricted view seats were listed as £240 and above.

With an ongoing cost of living crisis and stagnant wages, it’s ridiculous that artists think that they can charge these fees and price so many people – especially young people and families – out of enjoying gigs and concerts.

When a parent has multiple kids who want to attend Carpenter’s gig, it shouldn’t cost thousands of pounds to to see the show. Or when a young girl is looking to go to her first concert with her friends, it shouldn’t mean that half the friendship group is unable to go because of ticket costs. An artist charging this much for their shows is effectively only allowing certain people to engage in their fan base – and that just isn’t fair.

Live music is something that should be open, accessible and for everyone to enjoy. It shouldn’t be an experience that’s only available to those who can afford to spend £240 on a ticket. I would’ve loved to have gone to see Carpenter live on her tour next year, but I simply can’t afford to pay for a ticket that is equivalent to a third of my rent. The music and touring industries should be trying to open more doors to fans, not shut them out in the name of money and profits.

“Pop acts are charging astronomical prices for their shows – and I’m fuming”