By Sarah Thomas
Megan Moroney brings Cloud 9 tour to Akins Ford Arena in Athens, GA.
On the night of February 22, 2026, fans began queuing up in front of the Akins Ford Arena box office. Despite instructions that the ticket queue would open at 7 a.m., dozens of fans lined up with an offer they just could not refuse.
Nine days earlier, University of Georgia marketing and music business alumna Megan Moroney announced her “Meet me on Cloud 9” tour to celebrate her third studio album. This limited tour would play in nine cities, and shockingly, tickets were sold for only $9 on the day of the show. All of the tickets sold “[benefited] the Megan Moroney Foundation, which focuses on combating bullying and raising mental health awareness” (Moyer). In the modern music business, these ticket prices are practically unheard of for big artists. In fact, a majority of college students have heard of something akin to the “Ticketmaster War” when it comes to prices and availability. Most artists of Moroney’s caliber sell tickets for hundreds of dollars. So, why did Megan Moroney launch this tour? Well, it all has to do with public relations.
This public relations strategy builds on Megan Moroney’s established brand image, which has consistently been perceived as authentic and good-natured. She has prioritized her fans and consistently aimed to give back to her supporters. For example, in 2025, Megan Moroney did a takeover of Athens’ infamous Raising Cane’s location, “working the drive-thru, the front counter… signing guitars and posters, taking selfies” and more (Schroder). Continuing to do public relations stunts in her college town pays homage to her roots while giving back to her fans.
In fact, during one of these performances, Moroney asked herself this when discussing the inspiration for doing the “Meet me on Cloud 9” tour: “What can I do to make sure I’m face-to-face with my fans for nine days straight where I can just thank you guys for being the best in the world?” (Up2Date Country). Her commitment to her supporters and charity causes, such as the benefits towards the Megan Moroney Foundation, illustrates a dedication to authenticity and her celebrity corporate social responsibility (CSR). Whether you are a fan of her music or not, you almost have to appreciate her kind-hearted and reputable personality.
While the tickets for her upcoming 2026 “The Cloud 9 Tour” may be considerably more than $9, it’s clear that Moroney will continue to utilize celebrity CSR to convey her gratitude for her wonderful network of fans. Therefore, we might want to keep our eyes out for another pink-coated public relations stunt for Athens in the future.
