Olivia Dean has made headlines not just for her music but also for her fight to make live performances accessible to her fans. The British singer revealed during a Soho Sessions and Grammy Museum event on 15 December that a single mother’s request was the catalyst for her public confrontation with Ticketmaster, Live Nation, and AEG over outrageous resale prices.
“I saw a video of a single mother who said she loved my album The Art of Loving but couldn’t afford a ticket,” Dean explained. “She could cover travel and babysitting, but not the ticket itself. That really struck me — she’s exactly the person who should be at my show.”
The singer’s Instagram post criticising the ticketing companies went viral, describing their resale practices as “vile” and calling for reform. Shortly after, Ticketmaster responded by offering partial refunds and limiting resale prices for Dean’s tour to face value. Michael Rapino, CEO of Live Nation, confirmed the changes, stating the company shared Dean’s vision of keeping live music accessible, while AEG did not comment.
Dean’s swift rise in 2025, propelled by the success of The Art of Loving, has made her a standout figure in pop music. Her U.S. tour, beginning shortly after her album release, highlighted the challenges of ticket accessibility. Dean reflected on the experience, saying, “It was unfair the way that the operation was running. I thought, ‘Let me have a go and see what I can do.’ And we did something — Ticketmaster are going to refund everyone, around $2 million in total.”
Looking ahead to her 2026 tour, Dean is set to perform in some of the world’s most famous venues, including Madison Square Garden and Crypto.com Arena. Her Grammy nomination for Best New Artist cements her status as one of the most exciting talents of the year. Olivia Dean’s commitment to her fans and her advocacy for fair ticketing practices demonstrate that she is not just a rising star in music, but also a champion for live music accessibility.