Although some people believe phones are necessary at concerts, I think phones should be limited during concert performances because, without them, the audience would stay focused, there would be fewer disruptions, and people could create better memories.
Phones bans are becoming more common at live performances. When Phoebe Bridges performed at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in September 2026, she banned phones and other electronic devices from her concerts so that she and her fans could enjoy the music without distractions. According to Lindsay Zoladaz’s New York Times article, “What We Gain, and Lose, at a Phone-Free Concert,” artists such as Alica Keys, Childish Gambino, and Jack White have also used Yondr pouches to keep phones tucked away during shows. These pouches securely lock electronic devices until a performance ends. While this policy seems inconvenient, it can help people focus on enjoying the concert instead of recording it.
One benefit of banning phones is that the audience can enjoy the performance without distractions. Zoladz describes how people hold up their phones, take selfies, or make FaceTime calls during concerts. These actions can block other people’s views and distract both the audience and the performers. At Bridges’s concert, Zoladz said that she paid more attention to the live performance because she couldn’t constantly check her phone. Without a screen in front of her, she could listen to the music and enjoy special moments as they happened.