Hayley Williams Introduces Safeguards to Limit Scalping Ahead of Solo Tour Presale
Hayley Williams is taking direct aim at ticket scalping as she prepares for the presale of her upcoming solo tour, outlining a series of measures intended to reduce inflated resale prices and curb bot interference. While she acknowledges that no approach can eliminate secondary-market markups entirely, the Paramore frontwoman says the goal is to ensure that most fans can access tickets at face value.
“You shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to buy tickets to see the show, but unfortunately, it’s a broken and convoluted system,” Williams wrote in a detailed Instagram statement. She added that she and her team are “hopeful that the processes we’ve put into place will get as many tickets into the hands of my fans (at face value) as possible.”
The Hayley Williams at a Bachelorette Party Tour is scheduled to begin its North American run in March. For this cycle, Williams has partnered with Openstage to run a verified-fan presale. Registration opens Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. ET and closes Nov. 11 at 10 a.m. ET.
Access to the presale will require two-factor authentication, with fans confirming both an email address and phone number before receiving a unique entry code. While verification does not guarantee a ticket, it ensures that buyers are competing primarily against other fans, not automated bots or resellers.
“I want to get tickets into the hands of my fans, at a price that is as reasonable as I could get it,” Williams wrote. “My team has spent countless hours trying to find the best solution. It’s been tough, and unfortunately there’s just no way to guarantee that zero tickets get scalped. But we’re doing our best.”
For those who do secure tickets but later cannot attend, Williams and her team have implemented a face-value resale exchange, designed to prevent price-gouging. Through this system, tickets can be resold only at their original cost, blocking the markup practices common on major secondary platforms. In regions where legally permitted, ticket transfers will be disabled entirely, a move aimed at limiting the migration of tickets onto sites such as SeatGeek and StubHub. (Some states, including New York and Illinois, do not allow transfer restrictions.)
These policies mirror a growing trend among artists attempting to regain control over ticket distribution amid widespread criticism of the live-event marketplace. Fans have voiced increasing frustration over inflated pricing, opaque fees, and the prevalence of resellers buying up tickets seconds after they go on sale.
Williams acknowledged the limitations of the current system, noting that even with safeguards in place, some inflated secondary-market activity is inevitable. Still, she emphasized that lowering barriers for genuine fans remains the priority. “This won’t be perfect,” she wrote. “But I hope it eases some of the anguish around buying tickets.”
The singer released her third solo album, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, in August. The forthcoming tour marks her next major project outside Paramore, following a significant year for the band and for her individually.
“I can’t wait to be back on the road and see all of your faces,” Williams wrote. “We’ll dance, scream, and cry together. Take care of yourselves.”
