Ever forked out top dollar to see a big name act, perhaps some music industry veteran touring in a desperate bid to squeeze every last drop of revenue out of their greatest hits catalogue before (or sometimes after) they officially retire, only to be left disappointed by their less than robust performance? Well, if this happens to you in Finland, you can now get your money back.
The land of perpetual darkness has just passed a law that entitles music fans to seek a refund if they’re left disappointed by a live show.
As NME reports, the country’s Consumer Disputes Board ruled on Friday, 3rd July, that ticket-holders can get a refund if a performance is deemed “well below reasonably expected standards”.
The decision follows a 2013 incident in Helsinki that saw a Chuck Berry fan demand his money back after the legendary musician “seemed fatigued” during his concert.
Spokesperson Pauli Ståhlberg explained that the issue of “quality” is not just about subjective opinion: “What is significant is a generally agreed view that the concert was a failure, as it was in the Chuck Berry case,” he told said.
The question of whether or not a performance can be deemed a failure, he continued, has less to do with whether it is “good or bad by some objective measure”, but rather “whether or not the performance meets the consumer’s expectations”.
The exception, of course, is music festivals, because they contain a high amount of varying acts which all contribute to the overall ticket price.
“There are numerous different performers at a festival and so it has to be evaluated as a whole,” Ståhlberg added. “Even the marching order affects perception of the overall quality. A failed performance by a featured star is a bigger deal for consumers than one by a warm-up band”.
The new legislation is no doubt being hailed a victory by Finnish Meatloaf fans en masse.
Watch: Meatloaf Live @ AFL Grand Final 2011
