Maggie Rogers Paves the Way for Fair Ticketing for Her Fans

Photography by Morgan Winston

For Maggie Rogers’ upcoming Summer of ‘23 Tour, she invited fans to head to the box office to “come buy an in-person ticket like it’s 1965.” While scamming bots and skyrocketing fees are common for the online ticket purchasing process, Rogers took initiative to pave the way with an old-school approach by helping fans find tickets at a rational price point. Rogers took to Instagram to urge fans to visit the tour’s venues explaining the sale would occur on “one day only. We’re running an in person pre-sale where you can go directly to your local box office to buy a ticket.” 

Photography by Morgan Winston

“A lot of people, including me, are frustrated and concerned, and I’ve been thinking about a way to sort of give people another option,” Rogers said in her video on Instagram. “So we’re going old school.”  Rogers’ approach to prioritize a more fair ticketing approach while engaging with her fans is truly unlike anything happening in the concert ticket market. It was no surprise that fans queued up to their local box offices in 11 cities across America including Charlotte, Nashville, Philadelphia, Portland, and Los Angeles. 

By Morgan Winston

On a cloudy and brisk Friday morning in Brooklyn, Rogers made a surprise in-person appearance at The Music Hall of Williamsburg to personally hand tickets to her fans for the upcoming show on Thursday, July 27th at Forest Hills Stadium. While waiting in line amongst hundreds of twenty and thirty-something New Yorkers, like myself, it was quite special seeing people physically show up with only a day’s notice from one of their favorite artists. Rogers truly created an analog moment in the digital age to engage directly with the fans and venues, restoring the fan experience to help fans receive tickets firsthand.

Amplify Her Voice’s contributing photographer, Morgan Winston, and I were inspired to connect with our fellow, devoted fans for a unique moment in live music history.  While walking several blocks in Williamsburg, we were able to learn about fans’ favorite songs and about their experiences at previous shows.

We also took a similar retro approach,  like Rogers’ ticketing event, capturing portraits on 35-millimeter film.  We met dedicated fans who had been lined up since 6 a.m., people taking work meetings and emails from their laptops, fans who brought their furry friends along, and even enthusiasts with Maggie Rogers tattoos.

Courtney Davis, Christine West

“My favorite song is ‘Light On’ because it got me through the pandemic.” - Courtney Davis (left) | Lancaster, PA

“My favorite song is ‘Dawns’ because it came at a time that there was a lot of loss in my life” - Christine West (right) | Downingtown, PA

Paige Lemieux | Glenrock, New Jersey

“My favorite Maggie song is probably ‘Say It.’ I love that song because it makes me want to dance.”

Steph Jones | Milford, CT

“My favorite song is ‘New Song’ off the ‘Notes in the Archive’ album. The album came out at such a perfect time during the pandemic. It felt so cool to connect to her older music that hadn't been released yet. It was really awesome to see it live with Del Water Gap at Radio City Music Hall.”

Noël Masal & Delaney Masal | New York City, NY

“My favorite song is ‘Different Kind of World’ because it’s so personal. I think it relates to the time and the feeling of both love and hurt at the same time. But then also wanting to change and that intensity of the drop. I just really love that song. I also love that it’s at the end of the album, and that it’s a good summary.”

Meredith Kalhor, Allison Qisniewski, and dog, Phebe

“I love all of her songs. The one that sealed the deal for me was her cover of ‘Tim McGraw’ because I’m a Swiftie. It was like worlds were colliding, and I cried for the first time I listened to that song. It makes me super happy, and it brings me back to my childhood growing up with Taylor and discovering Maggie and falling in love with her too.” - Meredith Kalhor (left) | Orlando, Florida

“I like ‘Burning’ a lot. It makes me feel happy but emotional and grounded at the same time.” - Allison Wisniewski (right) | Munster, Indiana

Rebeka Stowe, Jamie Morrissey, Hannah Stenovec

“My favorite song is ‘Be Cool’, and I love it because of the first two lines which are about reality and constantly interacting self-important shit and sometimes you kind have to fuck off, right?” - Rebeka Stowe (left) | Olathe, KS

”My favorite song is ‘Different Kind of World’ because it’s a direct dose of dopamine when the beat drops. It just kind of elevates me to another planet, and I love that” - Jamie Morrissey (middle) | Rochester Hills, Michigan

“My favorite song is ‘Light On’ because it’s about moving on but, it’s also about the familiarity of the past.” - Hannah Stenovec (right) |Bay Area, California

Henry Carman | Madison, WI

“My favorite song is ‘Overnight’. That entire album was such a formative part of my life. That song particularly takes me right back to college. Everything was changing super fast. Maggie has always spoken to me since I was in high school. I feel like I grew up and matured with her.  That song being about change, meeting new people and leaving people behind really meant a lot to me”

Hari Chittilla | Goldsboro, NC

“My favorite song is ‘I’ve Got a Friend’, and I love it because I think not enough artists talk enough about friendship.  Jon Batiste’s laugh at the end is cute as hell, and he’s so good at piano. I love it all.”

Daniel Labarbera | Vienna, VA

“My favorite Maggie song has to be ‘Back in My Body.’ There was a time when I didn't feel at home in my body and that is the one thing we are given…our body and our mind. Just to be able to come back to it, it’s such a celebration. It’s such a rejoicing feeling that is super special, emotional and awesome. The song does a perfect job of encapsulating just that feeling of returning home.”

Brad Weinstein and dog, Khaleesi | Buffalo Grove, IL

“My favorite song is ‘The Knife.’ What ‘The Knife’ means to me… I think  it just brings out this feeling when I’m walking in New York and having a good day. It just makes me feel good and happy. She’s just aesthetically one of the best artists I know.”

Bella Lazzareschi | Healdsburg, California

“My favorite song is ‘Light On’ because it’s very relatable and a lot of other people have probably experienced something similar to that. I like Maggie Rogers because she makes it more fun to be a woman. Not easier but more fun.”

Ashley Evers | Muskego, WI

“My favorite song is ‘On and Off’. It’s extra special to me because I had the opportunity to talk to Maggie about the meaning of the song back in 2017 when she was touring through my hometown. She shared with me that the song is deeply rooted in bipolar disorder, and having people around you that suffer from mental illness.  I am personally affected by bipolar disorder, and I decided to get a tattoo to resemble that experience and how much it means to me. It makes me want to dance, and it feels cathartic hearing it live. Play ‘On and Off’ on this tour, Maggie. Love you.”

Ashley Alder | Vancouver, Washington

“Honestly ‘Light On’. I found Maggie in a time that I wasn’t super positive in my life and hearing this idea of leaving a light on for me was super impactful.”

The early morning queue proved to be well worth the wait, as Rogers acquainted with those standing in line and even handed some their tickets for the Forest Hills show. Fan, Ashley Evers, was elated to meet Rogers during the event saying “as more of our lives shift online by the day, the value of personal, face-to-face interaction multiplies. These interactions are ones that most fans will never share with their favorite artist.” After meeting fans, Rogers shared a note on her Instagram story saying “I feel like the luckiest gal in the world right now. This community means the world to me. My heart is exploding. Thank you to everyone who showed up all around the country today.” 

We hope artists will follow Rogers’ suit, creating intentional moments to prioritize engagement with fans while also helping fans get reasonably priced tickets directly into their hands. 

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