AP Newsroom
Harry Styles appears in the press room at the 65th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 5, 2023.

Harry Styles has just announced even more dates for his London residency this summer with the megastar performing for 10 nights in the capital!

The former One Direction star was originally scheduled to headline just six shows at Wembley Stadium between the 12th and 23rd June. However, due to overwhelming demand, four more dates have been announced to the delight of the singer’s fanbase.

Despite the expanded schedule, London remains the only UK stop as part of a residency-style format, and the singer’s limited venue destinations have caused frustration amongst fans who have criticised the format as inaccessible.

Harry Styles is seen performing at the Brit Awards 2023 in London, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.  Credit: AP

For London-based fans, proximity to Wembley offers little advantage since fans from all over the country are all funnelled into a limited pool of tickets.

“I’ve lived in London my whole life, but I didn’t even attempt to be honest, there’s just no chance of getting a ticket,” says Beatrice Weaver, aged 23.

Prior to the expansion of tour dates, pre-sale tickets were released on Monday, with queues of up to 250,000 per date. Glamour magazine estimated there was only a 9% chance of securing tickets to one of the original six shows at the stadium.

The new format effectively lets the audience travel to the artist, which has generated debate over whether destination concerts prioritise spectacle and exclusivity over fan access.

19-year-old, Sarah Little said ‘I’m a Mancunian but I live in London and invited my group of school friends to come, but with the cost of travel, accommodation and high-ticket prices, it was just too expensive.’

The musician’s 2021 ‘Love on Tour’ saw the singer visit multiple venues across Britain including Manchester, Coventry, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Amid the cost-of-living crisis, many understand ‘venue squatting’ as reducing the communal spirit of live music.

Harry Styles’s ‘Love on Tour’ concert at Wembley stadium, July 22nd 2023, Credit: Lizzie Rix

Furthermore, Harry Style’s Together, Together tour is the latest to face a backlash over high ticket prices and restricted accessibility.

Ticket prices for the London residency vary from £44.10 to £466.24 and standing tickets priced between £144.65 and £279.45. VIP packages are even higher, costing between £333.45 and £725.45.

On Twitter Lauren Oxley wrote:

‘I’m a massive fan but we need to have a serious conversation about the absurd ticket prices some artists are now charging. Makes music and entertainment completely inaccessible for the hundreds to spend on a single ticket.’

https://x.com/LaurenOxleyx/status/2016119058546995536

By comparison, tickets for the Grammy star’s Love on Tour shows at Wembley ranged from approximately £50.65 to £326 before fees. This means top-tier tickets for the new residency are now around £140 more expensive than comparable seats just three years ago.

Ticketmaster have stated the high prices were not a reflection of dynamic pricing on their end and that the cost of the tickets had been set by Harry’s team. However, many still expressed disappointment that prices for tickets reached over £700.

Harry Style’s ‘Love on Tour’ display at Wembley Stadium July 2023, Credit: Lizzie Rix

In this current economic climate, rising ticket prices and increasingly limited concert locations have made access to live music feel more difficult for fans.

Jamie Johnson, University of West London pop music lecturer highlighted ‘we are living in an era where seeing a globally famous musician or band can cost several hundred which is unavailable to many.’

Several artists are trying to combat the increasing cost of gig tickets. British band, Sleaford Mods have introduced a number of £5 tickets for fans on low-incomes, in the hope to make their shows more inclusive.

While music artist Olivia Dean has urged ticket retailers to cap resale prices to protect fans and keep live music accessible to all.