John Legend’s Manila concert ticket prices draw criticism from fans

The Manila concert was expected to be an exciting news for John Legend’s fans, but instead, it was faced with criticisms following the release of its ticket prices.

The American singer-songwriter is set to have the Manila leg of his ‘John Legend: An Evening of Songs and Stories’ concert on September 3 and 4 at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell Center Makati.

On July 5, the ticket prices were released, ranging from P10,300 for Dress Circle Side Front to P72,100 for Orchestra SVIP.

Following the release, fans were shocked with how expensive the tickets were. Many expressed their disappointment, saying that it’s not fair and it’s unreasonable.

For somebody whose last hit was 13 years ago, 72,000 is insane. Even Madonna back in friggin early 2016 had 57,000 as her most expensive tier. https://t.co/VySWMZ8XBx

— Nicol (@nikowl) July 5, 2026

Niyaya ako ni Ate nood daw kami, nung makita niya ticket prices yung realization na hindi kami mayaman apakabilis hahaha! https://t.co/yGWYv7vX2m

— 🍉f i l l🍉 (@beorrrn) July 6, 2026

However, some fans pointed out that the ticket prices were understandable, as the concert is expected to be an intimate theater experience, allowing audiences to be seated closer to Legend.

The situation sparked online discussions about whether the show was primarily catering to fans who could afford to spend thousands of pesos on the experience, rather than those who simply wanted to see the singer but had more limited budgets.

Intimate venue/concert. Less than 1,000 lang capacity ng theater kaya ganyan kamahal. Target market ang mayayamang tao.

— Blanche DuBois (@atrl_kwek_kwek) July 5, 2026

Wala namang problem talaga kung mga can-afford talaga ang target market neto. The problem is with the way it’s being announced like any regular Filipino concertgoer can pay to go. OF COURSE magba-backlash yan hahaha sino ba namang magbabayad ng ganyan in this economy??

— Madame Webstination: Morblines 🍥 (@SirJVinTheHouse) July 6, 2026

Despite the backlash, the tickets were almost sold-out a day after its selling, proving that there are fans who are willing to spend money to watch Legend as he performs his songs inside the theater.

‘An Evening of Songs and Stories’ was described by the Filipino fans as the highest concert ticket prices ever offered in the Philippines.

John Legend is the first Black man to officially achieve an EGOT status, or an individual who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award. He is known for his hit songs such as ‘All of Me,’ ‘Ordinary People,’ and ‘Love Me Now.’

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