Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour Faces Slow Ticket Sales Amid Controversy

LOS ANGELES, California — Despite an extensive promotional campaign, ticket sales for Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour are experiencing a notable downturn across several key markets. As of March 24, 2025, many shows feature ample ticket availability, with prices dropping below $35 on platforms such as Ticketmaster, StubHub, and VividSeats.

According to Digital Music News, the tour’s pricing dynamics have seen cheap seats at renowned venues like SoFi Stadium reaching as low as $29, while other major arenas report tickets starting around $30. This trend showcases a stark decrease from the usual demand for tickets to Beyoncé’s concerts, which typically sell out quickly.

As an example, a $29 ticket was recorded for May 1 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and several $32 seats were also available at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Prices have since seen some fluctuations, particularly during weekends.

Live Nation, which manages the tour, recorded a 94% sellout rate. However, many of these tickets appear on the secondary market, leading to concerns that demand is not as high as reported. Even Ticketmaster displays a range of seating options, indicating excess availability.

In response to the sluggish ticket sales, Live Nation announced the addition of nine shows, including a Las Vegas date, expanding beyond the original 22 stadium stops. Beyoncé’s decision to perform five consecutive nights at SoFi Stadium may contribute to the oversupply and consequent price drops observed.

Internationally, the tour is set to perform six nights at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, where ticket sales have also been underwhelming. Only one London date has approached a sellout status, as reported on Ticketmaster’s website.

The Cowboy Carter album, which sparked significant discussion on race and authenticity within country music, features collaborations with notable artists including Dolly Parton and Post Malone. Despite earning critical acclaim, including two Grammy Awards, the musical project has attracted criticism from traditionalists, reflecting deeper racial issues within the genre.

On March 23, Rhiannon Giddens, a contributor to the album, expressed mixed feelings about her involvement during an interview with Rolling Stone. Giddens, known for her banjo skills, highlighted the complexities of navigating her role in the album, claiming it was a valuable opportunity yet acknowledging the transactional nature of the music industry.

“There are so many of us struggling to maintain our humanity in this industry,” Giddens shared. Her experience with Cowboy Carter led to a burgeoning interest in banjo music within the Black community, a positive outcome she recognized amidst her concerns.

Despite its Grammy success, Chris Giddens argued that many critics aim their frustrations at the album due to its Black creator. “People don’t wanna say it’s because she’s Black,” she stated, implying a dual standard exists in the music industry for artists of different races.

As the Cowboy Carter tour develops, both Beyoncé and Giddens navigate the complexities of race, music, and rapid societal change, each playing a role in vital discussions surrounding identity in contemporary American music.