In August 2015, I wrote a cover story for BusinessWorld Weekender on Madonna's then-upcoming concert in Manila as part of her Rebel Heart tour, where ticket prices went as high as ₱57,750.
Then-Dean of the UP College of Mass Communication Roland Tolentino described that time as a "coming-into-consumerist age"of fans, particularly those who only gained access to financial wealth as adults.
That is happening again.
Photos of Taylor Swift and Coldplay from their official press releases
Over the past few months, our social media feeds have been full of either complaints or celebrations about getting concert tickets to the respective concerts of Coldplay and Taylor Swift.
These posts actually reflect social class: because while music is accessible to all, celebrities are not.
Those who cannot afford a concert ticket are the first to be weeded out. This is even more pronounced when concert venues are outside one's home country, such as the Asia leg of the Eras Tour.
Then, inside the concert venue, further stratification occurs. The rich sit close to the stage. The poor watch from the bleachers (cue: "You Belong With Me").
Taylor Swift Eras Tour arena layout in Australia via Secret Sydney
The configuration in concert arenas is similar to the layout of malls.
In Dean Roland's work "Sa Loob at Labas ng Mall Kong Sawi / Kaliluha'y Siyang Nangyayaring Hari: Ang Pagkatuto at Pagtatanghal ng Kulturang Popular", he described how the mall reflects social hierarchy.
The more expensive brands, a.k.a. where the 1% shop, would usually be on the top floor, or in areas where foot traffic is lower.
Meanwhile, the fastfood chains or department stores are usually on the ground floor where the masses are — just like the General Admission section in an arena.
But the assertion of social status doesn't end in one's seat — because a photo in the VIP section is nothing compared to a selfie with the star.
As seen in that now-infamous viral video of Lea Salonga, there's another, more exclusive rung in the theater or concert arena: the backstage.
Screencap from Cristopher Carpila's Facebook account
One needs money (to buy exclusive passes) or powerful connections to get to this place. The fans in the video did not only namedrop a producer, they also used the "kababayan" card as if that had weight.
We can always discuss the ethics of asking for celebrity photos, but this should also exist within a wider discourse. Let’s not forget that we're really all just sitting on the bleachers, looking up a sky full of stars.