Swifties And The Power Of Fandom

Despite most American states crafting a version of the 2008, Tennessee-established intervention named the “anti-bot law” which prohibits the use of digital tools to buy tickets; the prevalence of tickets being purchased using computer programs continues unabated. Following the recent fiasco faced by Taylor Swift fans of unavailable or exorbitantly priced  tickets, the aforementioned Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Nevada have resorted to attempting enforcement of their guidelines after investigations into the matter. This followed over 2000 complaints were filed by Taylor Swift fans - Swifties.

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This is the culmination of a longstanding tension between fandoms and ticketing companies like Ticketmaster as fans often feel such platforms prioritize profits over the needs and desires of the fans. A case in point is the allowance of ‘scalping’ where tickets are sold on the secondary market for significantly higher prices than their face value. This can be especially frustrating for fans who are unable to secure tickets through the official channels and are forced to pay exorbitant prices to see their favorite artists perform live. As the name of the law suggests; another issue is the use of ticket bots, which are automated programs that quickly scoop up large quantities of tickets as soon as they go on sale. This makes it nearly impossible for fans to secure tickets, even if they are ready and waiting to purchase them as soon as they become available.

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In a display of the undeniable force of engaged community, though, Swifties filed numerous complaints against Ticketmaster after scores of them were unable to secure tickets for her ongoing ‘Eras’ tour. This caught the attention of attorneys general who sympathized with the fans’ frustrations. It resulted in a big win too, with Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro announcing an extended chance to purchase tickets within the state. To its credit; Ticketmaster’s involvement in the re-issue of tickets backed up their claims of taking steps to improve its ticket sales processes and address the issues raised by the fans. It’s a classic case of the efficacy fans have in rallying behind an artist - a perfect case study on the power of fandom. By coming together and raising their concerns, Swifties were able to bring about change and hopefully positively impact future fan experiences. Beyonce fans anticipating her Renaissance tour may already benefit, if the law firm representing Swifties has any say in the matter:

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