"Everything has changed and the public seems to appreciate" : why more and more artists are raising their voices and banning phones from their concerts

A swarm of phones brandished in front of the stage. This situation, common during concerts, will not occur during the performances of American rocker Jack White at the Olympia, in Paris, on Saturday June 13 and Sunday June 14. The ex-guitarist and singer of the White Stripes has banned telephones during his performances. They are “prohibited in the performance hall”writes the production company Radical on its site, promising “an authentic experience, without a screen”. Spectators will be required to place their phones in “lockable pouches”which they will keep with them all evening, explains the company. If necessary, they will be able to access their devices in designated spaces “telephone usage areas”.

Already in 2018, Jack White used this device. This year, it was deployed during a concert in the same famous Parisian hall. “Enjoy a 100% human experience, without a phone”argued the production. “I don’t have a set list. I really react to what the audience says, like a stand-up comedian would.”Jack White explained to Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich on YouTube. “Let’s enjoy the show with our eyes and ears”he urged on the set of American host Conan O’Brien. The screens, “It’s distracting for those in the back who are trying to look closely, and see a sea of ​​blue screens in front of them”he also argued.

Before him, other artists have banned phones from their shows, notably Alicia Keys, Madonna and the French comedian Florence Foresti. The common point: the use of the company Yondr, founded in 2014. The American start-up has developed a system of bags, making the phones unusable, which are unclipped using a specific device, reminiscent of the anti-theft devices that equip clothing in some stores.

The movement to ban phones at concerts is not entirely new but it is growing. In 2025, the Swedish hard rock band Ghost took the plunge. “It was crucial because after the last tour, I told myself that I didn’t want to do this anymore”explained singer Tobias Forge. “In concert, everything seemed so disconnected, and no one was really there, like you were talking to people staring at the horizon.”described the leader of the band known for its frightening makeup and its visual universe nourished by horror films. And to compare the before and after: “Everything has changed. On stage, we love it. The audience seems to really appreciate it. Now, it’s one of the reasons that makes me want to play every night.”

British popstar Harry Styles also gave a concert without a phone in March in Manchester (United Kingdom). The ticket only cost 20 pounds while places can cost 500 pounds for some of its dates. On the other hand, this event, which celebrated the release of his new album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionallywas filmed for rebroadcast on Netflix. If some people in the public tried to defy the instructions, “Everyone else was just there, enjoying the moment. I found it really, really special”photographer Ali Al Hashimi told CNN. “At the end of the day, live music is all about connectionhe commented. Feeling a connection with the artist, feeling a connection with the thousands of people who came to accompany you.”

American artist Phoebe Bridgers also announced a North American and European tour “sans téléphone”after playing a concert without a screen, on June 5, at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York. “It’s weird not having a phone, isn’t it?”she asked the audience, specifying that she herself had never attended a concert without a phone, the magazine reported NME. “I appreciate you allowing us to disconnect from the internet”she also told the public during this concert marked by the unveiling of eight new songs.

If the idea of ​​performing live without a phone in the audience is progressing, it is not shared by everyone. “Some artists say fan-filmed videos of their best moments can help them go viral and boost their careers.”notes the BBC. “Pop stars, whose audiences are younger and frequent larger venues, view smartphones as an essential marketing tool”écrit Rolling Stone. “The collective experience lived by a Justin Timberlake or a Drake can be reinforced by a cell phone”estimates a source in the music sector near the magazine. “On the other hand, at a Ryan Adams concert, a cell phone can ruin it.”

The British daily Metro notes that spectators appreciate the spectacle offered by a room filled with the flashes of telephones during the calmest songs (instead of lighters). “Take photos or videos, but unless it’s your favorite song, maybe try to be a little more in the present moment.”notes the newspaper, calling for reasonable use of telephones in theaters.

So last côté, le magazine américain Patch responds without pinching certain critics who see the ban on telephones during concerts as an attack on freedom. “When you buy a concert ticket, what are you paying for? A live music experience or permission to film?” If the batteries always end up flat, the debate around telephones in theaters does not seem to be dying down any time soon.