Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s tour has sent ripples through the ticket market.
Ticket prices for Macklemore’s upcoming shows are soaring after he was removed from the remainder of his Sealan’s Loop tour earlier this month after making pro-Palestinian comments on stage. Meanwhile, secondary market prices for Sheeran’s remaining concerts have fallen.
The resale price for Macklemore’s October concert at Red Rocks, Colorado, is rising this week, even though the show was announced in March.
“The price of admission for that show (or the price of the cheapest ticket available) has increased 45% over the past three days, from $108 to $157,” Keith Pagero, founder of price tracking company Ticket Data, said in a statement to CNBC on Thursday. “This is a surge that we can confidently say would not have happened without this week’s events.”
Macklemore said on social media Monday that he was removed from the tour after he made pro-Palestinian comments during a Sept. 4 performance at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, which prompted stadium owners to threaten to cancel the show. On Thursday, he announced that he would donate $1 million in proceeds from his tour to Palestine aid organizations.
Sheeran’s other support acts Finneas, Aaron Lowe, Beoga and Lucas Graham all announced they would be leaving the tour following Macklemore’s departure. It is unclear who will appear in place of the performers.
Following Macklemore’s headlines, ticket prices for Sheeran’s tour were reduced at nine of the remaining 10 venues, according to ticket data compiled from platforms such as SeatGeek. vivid seatgame time, and stub hub.
But Pajero said the decline is normal and may be unrelated to the controversy.
Mr. Pajero said, “Even if you look at all concerts, there are more concerts whose prices go down as the performance date approaches, rather than those whose prices go up.”
Ticket prices for Sheeran’s North American concerts this summer dropped an average of 22% in the final two weeks leading up to the show, Pajero said.
Mr Pajero sees the resale value of tickets for Sheeran’s upcoming concerts as more important.
“Resale volumes are clearly increasing. Since Monday, despite the downward trend in prices, ticket sales have remained at a slight to moderate pace of increase compared to previous tour destinations of the same distance,” Pajero said.
Ticket transfers are on the rise, but it’s unclear how much that trend has to do with opposition to, support for, or other factors.
Sheeran insisted in an Instagram post Wednesday that Macklemore’s firing was the promoter’s decision, not his own. He also justified his decision not to speak publicly about his personal beliefs.
“I have always used my platform and music to bring people of all backgrounds and cultures together, and this will continue to be the case,” he wrote. “There’s a reason I don’t use my professional platform for politics. My audience includes young people from all backgrounds, often children. People who come to my shows don’t expect a political forum.”
Concerts promoting Sheeran’s eighth album, Play, began in New Zealand late last year. The Australian show in February was the highest-grossing tour in the world that month, earning $70.8 million, according to Billboard.
Sheeran has led some of the world’s biggest tours. His most recent tour, which ended last year, grossed $875.7 million and sold 8.8 million tickets, according to Billboard.
