The recent cancellation of several popular concerts has left fans repeatedly disappointed. When canceling a concert, artists often face repercussions from fans, promoters and venues, often combined with monetary losses.
Chappell Roan is facing backlash for canceling concerts to rehearse and attend the VMAs instead on September 3rd and September 4th, causing many fans to believe she values commercial recognition over her supporters. Less than a week’s notice was given for the cancellations, which left fans upset, and was seen as disrespectful and unprofessional.
When artists cancel at the last minute, it can be particularly hard on ticket holders who have made arrangements for lodging, transportation and for time off from work or school. Venues also suffer financially from sudden cancellations as they are held partially responsible for providing reimbursement.
When a concert is scheduled, fans and venues expect that the show will go on. Senior Fiona Griffin of Middletown loves to support local artists in her town and around New Jersey. She attends small concerts often, and believes that artists should recognize that their shows are expensive and should adhere to the expectations many fans uphold when buying tickets.
“When you buy a ticket to a concert it should be guaranteed that the concert is going to happen,” she said.
Single concert cancellations are not the only issue plaguing the industry. Some artists have canceled entire tours, such as Donald Glover, who is more popularly known for his stage name Childish Gambino.
Glover canceled his tour titled The New World Tour in October due to surgery for an underlying, undisclosed medical condition, only completing 18 shows out of 58. This cancellation was tough on promoters who felt that time, money and effort was wasted promoting a tour that barely happened. No apology was expressed, but a statement was released, explaining that he wanted to perform, but his health took priority.
While fans were reimbursed, they still felt cheated and let down. Freshman Elliot Chamberlain of Middletown, who has seen many artists, big and small, believes that artists “should definitely refund tickets if the concert isn’t postponed or moved.” Providing refunds can soften the blow and honor consumer confidence when it comes to canceled performances, but it still doesn’t make up for not being able to see much loved artists, considering that fans were willing to shell out money to see the shows in the first place.
Some people, however, believe that artists should be able to cancel concerts without facing repercussions.
Sophomore Emily Ye of Tinton Falls, who has not been to a concert before, but has heard of the many cancellations of shows, believes that artists should be able to cancel for good reasons like medical emergencies, without enduring fallout.“Things like medical reasons are out of the artist’s control,” said Ye.
In July, Rolling Stone’s acclaimed “Reigning Queen of Rock and Roll” Stevie Nicks canceled numerous performances around the globe due to a leg injury. Senior Leigh Batzar of Middletown was planning to attend one of Nick’s performances in Pennsylvania. When the show was postponed, Batzar and her family were given the choice of attending a show to be scheduled later, or to receive a refund.
“I was upset about the show being canceled because I had been looking forward to it for so long,” Batzar said. “We had an option to get the money from our tickets back or go to that show, but we decided to just get the money back since we didn’t know if we’d be able to go all the way back to Pennsylvania.”
Nicks failed to formally address concerns regarding the cancellations.
Whether cancellations and postponements are justified, or just occur on a whim, it is clear that the concerns of fans, promoters and venues should be addressed. Venues and promoters lose substantial money and time, while fans don’t get to see the artists that they paid good money to see.
With the Stieve Nicks show postponed, Batzar expressed mixed feelings about Nicks.
“I do think I listen to her music less often now after that happened, but if I ever get the chance to see her again I will definitely take it.”