Phoebe Bridgers is giving fans what they want: Affordable tickets to phone-free shows

In a world where tickets to see artists like Harry Styles at New York’s Madison Square Garden can cost 1,000, musician Phoebe Bridgers has a counteroffer: 1. Using old-school flyers pasted around New York City, the indie singer-songwriter announced a surprise pop-up concert at MSG slated for June 4. Fans could start signing up for tickets to the show—presented in partnership with the streaming service Tidal—on Monday, with fans being notified on Tuesday if they were selected to attend. Those who win the ticket lottery donate either 1, 5, 10, or 20 per ticket (up to two tickets per person) to the Community Justice Exchange’s National Bail Fund Network, which provides financial aid to help free people in immigration detention centers while their cases are processed. The affordable price comes at a time when fans have grown increasingly frustrated by exorbitant pricing for concert tickets. “It’s getting to the point where I feel like I’m being forced to outgrow concerts because of how inaccessible they are,” a fan wrote on X. Besides focusing on accessibility, the show will place an emphasis on ensuring the audience is engaged with the music. Fans who attend will have to surrender their devices, placing them in Yondr pouches. It’s a move that is keeping with the ethos of what is shaping up to be a mini-tour for Bridgers, who hasn’t played solo shows since 2023, when she performed the final concerts tied to her 2020 album Punisher and also opened for Taylor Swift on some of the megastar’s Eras Tour dates. Since early May, Bridgers has been gigging at small venues, starting in Roswell, New Mexico, and hitting cities that include Lubbock, Texas; Eau Claire, Wisconsin; and Bloomington, Indiana. For those shows, tickets cost 50 each, and devices weren’t allowed. The concert seems to be part of a larger strategy leading up to an announcement, with many speculating Bridgers will release a new album this year. “This seems so genius. Charging 1 so anyone can go, and ensuring that everyone stays engaged with the show. She’s definitely planning something,” a user said on social media.