MEET MARKET
How stars are charging fans a fortune to get up close and personal
MUSIC fans are paying through the nose for a meet and greet with their heroes as stars charge up to a grand for access backstage.
Pop legend Kylie Minogue charged fans £965 at her Café de Paris shows in London this year, including a photo op.
Singer Ariana Grande charges £609 for a photo, soundcheck dance party and Q&A session with her dancers, pre-show lounge access, a poster, gift and commemorative laminate access card.
You can press the flesh with ex-Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole for £350.
Fellow Brit Rita Ora’s VIP package included a standing ticket for her show, early entry, meeting and individual photo – all for a more modest £170.75.
American Idol winner Carrie Underwood – who marketed her own VIP package for her UK Cry Pretty tour this year – charged £288.70 for a top price ticket, photo, gifts and signed print.
Canadian Shawn Mendes’s top 2019 UK tour VIP package included meeting him and getting a signed guitar for £450.
Knight Rider TV fans who pay £40 to see veteran actor and singer David Hasselhoff, 67, on his European tour can meet the Hoff himself for an extra £264.
Peter Andre – whose hit Mysterious Girl was 23 years ago – charged £143 for a meeting and soundcheck access before a gig in Australia in February.
But Happy Mondays fans only need to stump up £20.65 on top of the £27.50 entry fee to meet former lead singer Shaun Ryder in Hull next month.
The Sunday Mirror told last week how Ariana Grande disappointed fans by cancelling future meet and greet sessions on her latest tour.
The singer – whose Manchester Arena concert in May 2017 was attacked by a suicide terrorist, killing 22 people – offered refunds after saying PTSD and panic attacks had forced her to pull out.
Her spokesman said: “Ariana has gone on record on social media and told fans why she decided to cancel these meet and greets – there is a lot of consideration before cancellations are issued.
“That said there is a lot of added value with high ticket prices, premium ticket, soundcheck access, special backstage party plus meet and greet, and limited edition merch bundled on.”
Gary Cohen of management firm ATC called some charges “extortionate”.
But he added: “If you’re a Liverpool fan watching the game with Kenny Dalglish in the lounge, would you feel ripped off ? Musicians are entitled to be as commercial about their business as sport. Artists no longer make significant money from selling music so they have to adapt.
“It comes down to how you price it. If I go into a room and there are 200 fans there and I get 30 seconds, with a quick selfie I’m going to feel ripped off.
“If it’s done right it doesn’t need to be overtly commercial and it can be a really beautiful experience.”
Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini said the phenomenon began in the US adding: “It’s become a serious source of income for a certain kind of actor and athlete, so I’m not surprised pop musicians have joined the party.”
The 1975 frontman Matty Healy said earlier this year: “Who came up with paid meet and greets? Did they think, ‘Surely there must be something else we can monetise... Oh! Human connection!! They’ll eat it up!’ Meet your fans or don’t. Don’t only meet them if you’re getting paid.
“Honestly, what are you doing?”
If you could watch a Liverpool game with Kenny Dalglish would you feel ripped off?
GARY COHEN MUSIC MANAGER ON MEET AND GREETS