Former One Direction-hearthrob-turned-solo artist Harry Styles announced a special one-off show to support his new album Fine Line this week, along with the option to score presale tickets for only $25. Now, fans are feeling cheated after all the tickets were scooped up in minutes.
Styles announced the special one-night only at Los Angeles’ Forum on December 13 yesterday. The presale was set to take place this morning, and those who preordered his album received a code.
PREORDER THE ALBUM BY 10pm PST TODAY FOR PRESALE ACCESS TO THE FORUM SHOW! pic.twitter.com/YOxUcDd20f
— Harry Styles. (@Harry_Styles) November 6, 2019
Styles is the latest artist to take advantage of the album bundling tactic – something that has been criticized over and over in the industry. Artists include a copy of their record with each ticket purchased. Fans are frustrated that the marketing team made it seem like buying merchandise would solidify fans’ chances at scoring tickets — this wasn’t the case.
It seems like the system was flawed from the start. Fans complained that when they originally signed into Ticketmaster as early as 5 a.m., they were placed in the back of a queue, even if they didn’t have a code. Yet, because of this error, people were able to get into the queue even if they hadn’t purchased anything beforehand. After 2,000 people purchased tickets, the presale was sold-out.
Fans took to Twitter to express their frustration:
I’ve literally had the Ticketmaster page open for Harry Styles presale since 8am and I have 2000+ people in front of me?? OK if I don’t get a ticket I’m hibernating until 2020
— sará (@SARAdise_) November 7, 2019
Bought a CD, woke up at 4:50, stayed up till presale went live, missed class, didn’t do my hair, waited in a line w 2k+ppl, AND STILL DIDNT GET TICKETS #HarryStyles pic.twitter.com/RTmmMkMfuO
— yikes (@gabyxburgueno) November 7, 2019
did i just spend $72 on the album and a shirt just to get the code but ended up not getting a ticket at all? ?#HarryStyles
— danica (@hsmnll) November 7, 2019
Really waited 40+ mins for Ticketmaster to play me and not let me get a ticket ?. Nobody talk to me for a week. #HarryStyles pic.twitter.com/BNkM1Ksxxf
— alisha (@ughlishaa) November 7, 2019
Went from 2000+ to 1 in like a second just now but cant get a ticket ? #HarryStyles pic.twitter.com/cvX7wIIwi5
— Karebear (@karebear1Drland) November 7, 2019
ME TO MYSELF THINKING THAT PRE ORDERING A VINYL, BUYING PLANE TICKETS, AND WAKING UP THREE HOURS EARLY TO LOG IN TO TICKETMASTER WOULD SECURE MY #HarryStyles TICKETS pic.twitter.com/IvlOuYMvFm
— Evelyn (@Just_A_Dreamer5) November 7, 2019
Fine Lines, Styles’ sophomore solo record, is due December 13 – the same night as The Forum show.
Last Updated on November 8, 2019
9 Comments
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Harry didn’t offer an album with the ticket, but viceversa, he offered the chance to get a ticket (at a ridiculous price) by buying the album, it’s not the same. He could easily have put the tickets at higher prices to make money as other artists do. And this album is exactly at the same price that his first one. On the top, he will probably donate the money to charity as he always does.
We preordered, received code, got up at 6am then I was waiting for hours to only get an error code every single time I tried to get tickets. Ticket Master was zero help and now zero tickets for us. Woke up this morning again. waited hours and once again nothing…. Its tough being a Mom and trying for nothing for your girls 🙁
@Stephanie – same exact situation for me. Trying to get tickets for my kids. Bought the album, set my alarm both days, sat online in the queue and nothing. But I see tickets are already on the 3rd party market for $$$$. Horrible experience.
I did the same thing as you! Frustrating…. How do resellers buy them before they even go on PRESALE!? YES I saw resellers selling tickets before I could even buy presale! Ridiculous
I just wish they would’ve had a system in place that doesn’t allow robots to purchase tickets in bulk. Some sites were selling the $25 tickets for up to $10,000, given it’s a once in a lifetime show. It is insane. Hopefully Harry would be able to help his fans and provide another opportunity to see him live similar to this one. I was also one of the MANY people who bought his album and waited for hours only to receive an error code every time I selected tickets as they sold out before my eyes, but I know it is not Harry’s fault. Hopefully he will speak out on this issue.
The promoters, ticket master, and the 3rd party sellers are all working together to gouge us and maximize profit, unfortunately.
I waited an hour before for presale after purchasing a CD a few days before, had to wait in line behind 2k other people, waited an hour only for all tickets to be sold out. I skipped class for buying tickets as well. Tried again today during the general public ticket sales, same thing happened. This is unbelievable, and people on StubHub and SeatGeek are selling their $25 tickets for $8,000!! Harry purposely made tickets affordable for his fans to buy!!! This is MESSED UP!!!!
I’m so frustrated that the tickets were sold out so quickly. My sister set up her alarm to buy us tickets, was on there an hour before the sale started, and ended up being all the way in the back of the queue with 2K people in front of her. Hopefully, Harry releases more tickets to be sold!
It said for mobile devices only so the few pics I saw showed laptops. Maybe that was part of it? Or maybe the insane amount of people trying to see him made it hard. Sad either way for the people who did t get the tickets. Your will be coming soon!!