TORONTO – JP Saxe, a Toronto-based singer-songwriter, has announced the cancellation of his upcoming North American tour titled "Make Yourself at Home" due to sluggish ticket sales and the increasingly high costs associated with touring. Initially, Saxe revealed on social media that in order to proceed with the tour, he needed to sell approximately 20,000 tickets within a 48-hour period. Unfortunately, the response fell short of this goal.
In a subsequent video update, Saxe shared that an additional 2,000 tickets had been sold; however, he emphasized that this increment was insufficient to salvage the tour. Expressing his gratitude for the additional support, he also highlighted that all purchased tickets would be fully refunded. Saxe is now focusing on ensuring that similar situations do not arise in the future.
Saxe, who gained widespread recognition for his 2019 hit single "If the World Was Ending," a collaboration with Julia Michaels, had planned to perform over 25 concerts across major cities including Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, and Vancouver. The cancellation of his tour reflects a broader trend within the live music industry, which is currently experiencing significant challenges due to a combination of a weak economy, persistent inflation, and skyrocketing concert ticket prices that have surged by hundreds of dollars this year.
In his TikTok video addressing fans, Saxe remarked on the positive community response to his appeal for ticket sales, stating that the selling of those 2,000 tickets served as a reminder of the power of community support. He expressed profound appreciation for everyone who bought a ticket, conveying heartfelt apologies for the cancellation and its consequences for fans who were looking forward to the concerts.
As the music industry navigates these turbulent times, Saxe's experience emphasizes the delicate balance artists must maintain between their creative endeavors and the financial realities of touring. The combination of high expenses and fan engagement levels poses significant challenges for entertainers, particularly emerging artists like Saxe who are establishing their presence in a competitive market.
