Rock legend Neil Young is making waves in the music world with a bold new move: He’s ditching controversial “Platinum” tickets for all future tours, and he’s crediting The Cure’s Robert Smith for the inspiration. The surprise announcement has fans cheering—and could spark a major shift in how concerts are priced.
In a heartfelt post on his website, Young called Platinum tickets, which use dynamic pricing to surge costs based on demand, a “rip-off for the people who keep music alive.” He then shouted out Robert Smith directly, praising the Goth icon for “showing us all how to fight back” against greedy ticket practices.
The nod to Smith isn’t random. Last year, The Cure’s frontman famously battled Ticketmaster over inflated fees and Platinum pricing during their U.S. tour. Smith even forced refunds for fans after tickets were slapped with hidden charges, calling the system “a sneaky scam.” His pushback went viral, with fans and artists alike hailing him as a hero.
Now, Young is following suit. “Music isn’t a stock market,” he wrote. “If I’m playing for you, I want you there—not just the ones who can afford a ‘Platinum’ badge.” While details on his 2024 tour are still under wraps, Young confirmed tickets will have fixed, affordable prices, with strict anti-scalper measures.
Fans are already flooding social media with praise. One user tweeted, “Neil Young and Robert Smith teaming up to save live music? This is the crossover we NEEDED.” Others are urging more artists to join the revolt, with posts like, “Taylor Swift, take notes!”
Industry insiders say Young’s move could pressure other big names to rethink ticket strategies. “When legends like Neil take a stand, it shakes the whole model,” said music analyst Laura Bell. “Promoters and platforms can’t ignore this forever.”
Neil Young’s next tour kicks off this fall, and tickets are expected to sell fast—no Platinum spikes attached. Stay tuned for updates, and let’s just say: Robert Smith might’ve started a revolution.