Neil Young Has Been Cured by Robert Smith

Neil Young actually did take a look at his life and he’s a lot like … Robert Smith. Encouraged by the loud advocacy of the Cure’s front man, Young will no longer be selling Ticketmaster “platinum tickets” to fans. Writing about the decision on his website, Young referred to a 2024 interview with Smith, who at the time criticized “fucking stupid or lying” musicians who allowed dynamic pricing — a demand-driven payment structure — to be utilized for their concerts. “It’s this story that really helped me to realize that I have a choice to make and can make a difference for my music loving friends. My management and agent have always tried to cover my back on the road, getting me the best deals they could,” he explained. “They have tried to protect me and my fans from the scalpers who buy the best tickets and resell them at huge increases for their own profits.” Young now acknowledges, despite this attempt to dissuade scalpers, attendees were still unfairly stuck with a higher cost. “The money went to me,” he added. “That did not feel right.” If only other artists would take a similar antidote.

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