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Fans are shelling out big bucks for Adele’s farewell shows in Las Vegas. The British powerhouse singer recently announced she will be taking an extended break from music after completing her current residency at Caesars Palace. With just ten performances remaining in November, including one on the 23rd, people are clamoring to catch Adele live before her sabbatical.
This intense demand has caused ticket prices to soar to astronomical levels on the resale market. A ticket that originally cost $400 is now being listed for $3,800 all the way up to $17,000 on Viagogo, a ticketing exchange platform. This intense surge in prices isn’t uncommon for hugely popular acts in their final run of concerts.
It’s reminiscent of what’s happening with Oasis. When the group announced reunion shows in the UK, Ticketmaster employed “dynamic pricing” which adjusted prices according to demand. This led to uproar from fans over fees and costs increasing to outrageous amounts on the secondary market. Some experts argued it may have breached fair trading policies. After adding extra dates in London, they altered how much prices could fluctuate.
Once again we’re seeing the benefits and disadvantages of scalpers reselling tickets at premium costs on platforms like Viagogo. While it allows fans to attend sold-out shows, critics say it prices out normal music lovers and hurts the artist’s brand.
