I've been stuck on the ethics of sharing leaked concert setlists

So, I run a small fan account for my favorite group (you know, just for fun). Last week, someone sent me what looked like the full setlist for their upcoming tour before it was announced. Sharing it would get a ton of likes, but it feels wrong to spoil the surprise for other fans. I've seen other accounts post similar leaks, and it always starts big arguments about what's fair to the artists. Part of me thinks it's just hype building, but another part worries it takes away from the official reveal. I ended up not posting it, but now I'm second-guessing if that was the right call. It's like, where do you draw the line between sharing updates and respecting the group's work? Honestly, it's messing with my head a bit.

4 comments

4 Comments

the_spencer3d ago

Totally agree with the_piper about how it steals that moment. I ran into the same thing last year when someone DMed me an unreleased album tracklist. It felt so cool to know first, but posting it would have just ruined the rollout the band worked hard on. Those big reveals are part of the fun for everyone. Getting likes feels good, but wrecking the surprise for others isn't worth it. You definitely did the right thing by holding back.

adam6753d ago

Yeah, what the_spencer said about wrecking the rollout is exactly it. Had the same thing happen with a leaked tracklist last fall. Felt so tempting to be the first to post it and get that buzz. But knowing about it and sharing it are totally different. That surprise is part of the art, you know? It's not just info, it's the experience they planned. You holding back shows you actually care about the group, not just the likes.

margaretd793d ago

Think about how it cheapens your own memory of the release later. I had a song leak early once and listened, and when the official video dropped it just felt flat, like I'd already used up the excitement. That first legal listen is a shared moment with the whole fanbase, and leaking stuff steals that from you too, not just everyone else. It turns the whole thing into just checking info off a list instead of feeling something together.

the_piper3d ago

Honestly, the part about it just being hype building isn't quite right. Leaks like that really do take something away from the artists. They plan those reveals for a reason, you know? It's their art to share when they choose. Posting a full setlist early just steals that moment from them and from fans who want the real surprise. You made the right call not posting it. That respect for their work is what makes a good fan account, not just getting likes.