Entertainment

Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny and Justin Timberlake are struggling to sell concert tickets: Here’s why

By
Social Links for Lauren Elkies Schram
Published June 8, 2024, 4:34 p.m. ET

Jennifer Lopez can’t sell concert tickets.

Nor can artists like Bad Bunny, The Black Keys, Justin Timberlake and Pink, according to reports.

Even Coachella was reportedly more lackluster than in previous years.

Yet, Taylor Swift is holding the most profitable concert tour in music history.

And Beyoncé kills it whenever she’s on the road.

Jennifer Lopez performs during the 2021 Global Citizen Live festival at the Great Lawn, Central Park on September 25, 2021
Jennifer Lopez, Black Keys and other music groups can’t sell tickets. But Taylor Swift and Beyoncé can. What gives? AFP via Getty Images

While not all artists’ issues are the same, there do seem to be some universal themes impacting the music business.

There are a lot of concerts going on in a post-pandemic world, ticket prices are climbing and it’s not easy to obtain tickets.

The average ticket price for the top 100 tours in the first quarter was a record $123.25, according to data from concert ticket tracker Pollstar, cited by Business Insider.

Taylor Swift, dressed in a short pink skirt and gold halter top, performs to a big crowd, with backup dancers clad in black and white outfits and a closeup screen behind her.
Taylor Swift is having an epic concert tour. Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
Beyoncé performs on stage in a black glitter body suit and thigh-high black boots.
Beyoncé is successful when she goes on tour. WireImage for Parkwood

Plus, artists may be overestimating their appeal by booking massive venues after delivering one hit.

Last week, Live Nation announced J.Lo’s tour was canceled and the singer/actor was taking time to be with her family and friends.

There was speculation the issue was the pop diva’s crumbling marriage to Ben Affleck.

But sales of her latest album have been weak and the companion film on Amazon Prime Video got panned. J.Lo’s planned Las Vegas residency is also in jeopardy.

There have been murmurs that headliners Justin Timberlake and Pink also have been slow to sell tickets, BI reported.
There have been murmurs that headliners Justin Timberlake and Pink also have been slow to sell tickets. Brian Prahl / SplashNews.com
Three members of the rock band The Black Keys play drums, a guitar and a keyboard on stage.
The Black Keys has canceled a planned arena tour. Getty Images

Rock duo The Black Keys also scrapped a planned arena tour, while fans flagged that some shows for Troye Sivan, Charli XCX and Wallows appear to be undersold, according to reports.

Reggaeton star Bad Bunny reportedly canceled his Minneapolis show due to poor sales, though a source close to the tour told The Post he canceled one date and that was only because of “extenuating circumstances.”

There have been murmurs that headliners Justin Timberlake and Pink also have been slow to sell tickets, BI reported.

Reggaeton star Bad Bunny reportedly canceled his Minneapolis show because of "extenuating circumstances."
Reggaeton star Bad Bunny reportedly canceled his Minneapolis show because of “extenuating circumstances.” Getty Images

Live Nation, the owner of Ticket Master, clapped back, with a spokeswoman telling The Post Timberlake and Pink “are doing extremely well.”

She also emailed, “Charli XCX and Troye Sivan’s SWEAT tour has multiple sold out dates and is over 70% sold across the board with 4 months left until it kicks off in September,” and the Wallows tour “is selling well.”

Live Nation said it has sold 100 million tickets so far this year, up from the same point last year. In addition, the company said, “Every year some events naturally fall off for various reasons, and in 2024 across all venue types we’ve seen a 4% cancellation rate — which is flat to last year.”