Olivia Dean is opening up about the moment that pushed her to publicly challenge Ticketmaster. While the “Man I Need” singer didn’t expect her comments to gain such traction, she says the situation pushed her to speak up about an issue she believes affects the very heart of music fandom.
Olivia Dean discloses what inspired her to take on ticketing giant
During a recent Q&A with Gayle King at a Soho Sessions event in New York, Dean reflected on the moment that led her to call out the ticketing company on social media. The singer explained that her frustration reached its peak after she came across a video posted by a single mother who had been tagged in one of Dean’s Instagram posts.
According to Dean, the woman shared how deeply she connected with Dean’s album. However, she said she couldn’t afford a concert ticket after resale prices surged online. The fan reportedly explained that while she could manage travel and childcare costs, the inflated ticket price itself was out of reach. Dean said that the message struck a nerve, particularly because the album was created with the intention of fostering emotional connection.
Dean told the audience she felt that fans like that mother were exactly the people her music was meant for. She added that the idea of live music becoming inaccessible due to pricing was troubling. “I don’t think it should be something that you can only enjoy if you have a lot of money,” Dean said per Page Six.
In November, Dean took to Instagram to criticize what she described as “vile” resale pricing after tickets for her tour appeared online at significantly higher prices than face value. She later admitted that she posted her comments impulsively, saying she shared her thoughts just before boarding a flight. By the time she landed, the story had gained media attention.
Following the backlash, Ticketmaster issued a response stating it would cap resale prices for Dean’s tour at face value. The company said the move was intended to support artists who wish to control “how their tickets are sold and resold.”
