Fans don't have cash: Headliners pulling tours as Trump's economy squeezes budgets

President Donald Trump’s economy appears to be touching every aspect of U.S. life — even canceling entertainment venues in states that voted for him in 2024.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that a Milwaukee festival will now have one less headline act at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater for 2026 as the reunited Pussycat Dolls become yet another band to cancel its North American tour amid U.S. economic concerns.

“After taking an honest look at the North American run, we’ve made the difficult and heartbreaking decision to cancel all but one of the North America dates,” the band announced on social media.

The Sentinel reports “this is the second major North American tour with a Milwaukee date this summer to be canceled” and one of five Summerfest 2026 acts that have pulled themselves from the lineup, including Dolls' planned openers Lil' Kim and Mya.

Across the nation, artists have been blaming “logistics, timing and wellbeing” for pulling shows, but the UK Times reports empty seats on venue maps show demand is not keeping pace with price as patrons pull entertainment budgets in favor of necessities.

“In recent weeks big-name artists including Meghan Trainor, Zayn Malik, Post Malone and the Pussycat Dolls have cancelled performances or entire tours,” reports the Times. “Only the Pussycat Dolls referenced disappointing ticket sales as a reason for the cancellations, but fans believe they all represent a case of “blue dot fever.”

The phrase “blue dot fever” takes its meaning from the symbols for empty seats on the Ticketmaster website, signifying unsold tickets. “Now, amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty,” the Times reports there are signs that consumer tolerance” for entertainment expenditures is breaking and a correction is taking place.

But few artists are stating the obvious: fans don’t have cash.

“The rapper Post Malone cancelled six tour dates last week, claiming he needed more time to work on new music. For the opening night of his tour at the Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina on June 9, blue dots populate all sections of the venue,” reports the Times.

Wisconsin, which supported Trump’s return to the White House in 2024, is just one more example of a state with less expendable income as Trump’s hugely unpopular war with Iran rages on, hiking fuel and grocery prices.

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