Feds subpoena Ticketmaster over egregious concert ticket prices — A spokesperson for Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, said the firm doesn't “feel comfortable” sharing information with Congress

3 years ago by L4sBot to c/technology

Feds subpoena Ticketmaster over egregious concert ticket prices — A spokesperson for Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, said the firm doesn't “feel comfortable” sharing information with Congress::A spokesperson for Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, said the firm doesn't “feel comfortable” sharing information with Congress.

db2 263 points 3 years ago

This is how you know deregulation doesn't work.

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Nurse_Robot 194 points 3 years ago

I don't feel comfortable with them essentially operating a monopoly that both consumers and artists detest. I don't feel comfortable with paying exorbitant meaningless fees if I ever want to experience a live event. It's never mattered what I'm comfortable with, I've always gotten fucked. I don't care how uncomfortable they are, I hope they get absolutely destroyed by legal fees and go bankrupt.

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NotMyOldRedditName 68 points 3 years ago

Not just them, everyone doing it.

We used to be able to get tickets to concerts at a small venue here by going into one of the music shops. No stupid fees, just whatever the ticket price was.

The venue stopped selling through these stores semi recently, moved to an online service, and now there's no less than 30% fees, sometimes as high as 40%.

It's absolutely ridiculous.

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bratosch 63 points 3 years ago

"the venue" is most likely owned my LiveNation, which also owns Ticketmaster. That's why they CAN have those insanely inflated prices, because they control everything. Like someone mentioned, Pearl Jam tried going off the beaten track and find venues NOT owned by LiveNation , which proved to be .. hard

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antizero99 30 points 3 years ago

That's just the beginning. Other artists have tried to avoid livenation venues but when the artist finds a venue, livenation just goes and buys said venue. That shit right there should have been taken to court.

Funny how these legal actions against companies like this only happen under democratic presidents.

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spookedintownsville 1 point 2 years ago

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NotMyOldRedditName 1 point 3 years ago

This venue isn't owned by them

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hydrashok 11 points 3 years ago

I bet they probably also wonder why suddenly attendance has dropped off, too.

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NotMyOldRedditName 5 points 3 years ago

There are still some shows we go to, but 100% we've said no to shows we were half interested in because of the ridiculous cost caused by the fees

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sparky1337 53 points 3 years ago

Pearl Jam tried this in the 90’s and got ran over. There would have to be people in congress that cared enough.

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cooopsspace 31 points 3 years ago

Not to mention they own a secondary ticket market and makes a lot of money off scalping being a thing.

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givesomefucks 23 points 3 years ago

Pretty sure they've gotten in trouble reserving seats for scalpers. They called them "premium buyers" or something because they bought an insane amount of tickets, more than any person could reasonably use.

TM still takes their cut when an original is bought. But then they take another when it's resold on their platform again. They make more money the more times a ticket gets resold.

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dogebread 14 points 3 years ago

I was watching this happen day of for a show in Montreal just recently. There were few seats available for weeks leading up to the show with resale tickets around 200 to 300 CAD a piece, then day of big chunks of non resale seats came available for a fraction of that.

Artificial scarcity. Total and complete scam.

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Plague_Doctor 2 points 3 years ago

Makes me think that the scalpers are employed by TM...

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cooopsspace 2 points 3 years ago

They're actually global epidemic. And it amazes me that you can sell a ticket to someone who doesn't have the intention of physically putting a physical body of themselves, a friend or family in the seat. All it does is lock real dedicated fans out.

At the very least I think artists should be able to choose to not have their tickets sold on the secondary market.

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givesomefucks 2 points 3 years ago

They’re actually global epidemic

That's just not how those words work....

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WetBeardHairs 13 points 3 years ago

I hope they get absolutely destroyed by legal fees and go bankrupt.

"They didn't" -Arrested Development Voiceover

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Lev_Astov 2 points 3 years ago

They are exuberant about their exorbitant fees.

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Nurse_Robot 3 points 3 years ago

Auto correct did me dirty

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realitista 136 points 3 years ago

Ticketmaster/Live Nation is one of the most blatant monopolies in all of history. They should be torn to shreds.

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Bonskreeskreeskree 39 points 3 years ago

Most people don't even know how many music venues the monopoly has acquired over the past 20 years

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slumberlust 25 points 3 years ago

It's be easier to count the ones they haven't gotten, on one hand.

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ipkpjersi 21 points 3 years ago

I'm shocked it's been allowed. They have been a monopoly for decades.

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BearOfaTime 9 points 3 years ago

Since the 1980s

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kWazt 7 points 3 years ago

Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged in 2010. Why the merger was greenlit in the first place is beyond me.

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DeathWearsANecktie 11 points 3 years ago

For sure, this shit has been bothering me for years. For as long as I can remember, Ticketmaster has been the only way of getting tickets to big events near me. And I presume it's the same for everyone else too.

How have they got away for so long without any competition?

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IHadTwoCows 8 points 3 years ago

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OhmsLawn 6 points 3 years ago

Torn to shreds and soaked in lye until a smooth pulp is formed.

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adaveinthelife 96 points 3 years ago

Is it the kind of discomfort one feels when they need to use a bathroom but there is only one for a 10,000 person event? Or the kind of discomfort one feels when it's a record heat wave but a bottle of water is $20 and despite advertising free water stations, there are none? Oh or maybe the discomfort in paying mystery fees that equal the price of the ticket?

Or maybe the kind of discomfort that only an illegitimate business model about to be exposed would evoke?

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Adalast 16 points 3 years ago

Sounds more like the discomfort of buying a ticket to a show for someone they think won't be popular when they go on sale for $20 then having your tickets cancelled the week before the show when they blow up on YouTube and the show sells out in hours for over $200/ticket.

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Kiosade 5 points 3 years ago

Whoa that happened? What was the artist?

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Adalast 3 points 3 years ago

https://www.dailydot.com/...

This wasn't LN/TM, as far as I can find with a cursory look, but this also isn't the story I remember reading from like 2021 on Reddit, but I can't find that one right now and apparently it is not an uncommon thing.

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Adalast 4 points 3 years ago

Apparently the one I was remembering was Taylor Swift. They told the ticket holder that they had to pay more after having purchased the ticket then when the holder refused, they voided the ticket.

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e_mc2 13 points 3 years ago

I sure hope it's all of the above combined times a zillion.

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A_Random_Idiot 6 points 3 years ago

This sounds like the ravings of some woke anti-capitalist! /s

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spookedintownsville 1 point 2 years ago

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ohlaph 92 points 3 years ago

I don't feel comfortable with their prices.

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Rentlar 38 points 3 years ago

I don't feel comfortable with their monopolistic and anti-competitive practices either.

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firewyre 78 points 3 years ago

See what happens when you don't jail cunts that ignore congressional subpoenas?!?

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ilinamorato 71 points 3 years ago

When your kids say "don't look in my pockets!" they definitely have something there you need to see.

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SaakoPaahtaa 19 points 3 years ago

When your dog pushes back on you trying to pry open their mouth, you know where the missing family cockatoo is.

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BeautifulMind 5 points 3 years ago

Hahahaha yesterday during the pie preparations my daughter and I passed each other as I was heading back to the kitchen and she said, apropos of nothing, "I didn't just steal any whipped cream, shut up!"

LOL I didn't know they'd been looting the whipped cream before that point but bless their hearts it was cute

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ilinamorato 3 points 3 years ago

lol nice. My 3 year old keeps saying "Dad don't look!" It's funny when it's a three year old with an orange.

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CptOblivius 69 points 3 years ago

In the early 2000s Ticketmaster began to really take off. The fees and extras really started to bother me. So I stopped going to any events that used them. Other than a few state/county fair events I haven't been to a concert since 2001. Because of Ticketmaster. I have no regrets either.

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lemann 56 points 3 years ago

Release the dogs on them. Live Nation has done nothing but rip off concert goers and harm small bands with their ridiculous fees and contractual venue restrictions, and this is without even touching on the horrible ticket scalping issues that they refuse to do anything about.

If I'm also recalling correctly, if a venue is signed up to Ticketmaster they cannot independently host events - everything has to be done through Ticketmaster 🤦‍♂️

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NotMyOldRedditName 3 points 3 years ago

If I'm also recalling correctly, if a venue is signed up to Ticketmaster they cannot independently host events - everything has to be done through Ticketmaster 🤦‍♂️

I may be wrong here, but I think this is an optional sign on, but they get something out of agreeing to it.

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givesomefucks 8 points 3 years ago

Also not sure, but I think it was something about concessions. Like if they don't agree, TM takes a cost of beer and food which is a huge money maker.

The option is likely just there to say it's technically optional.

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NotMyOldRedditName 1 point 3 years ago

That's terrible if so

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SaintWacko 53 points 3 years ago

"Oh, really? Well, we don't feel comfortable continuing your license to practice business in the United States!"

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spiderkle 49 points 3 years ago

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FlavoredButtHair 33 points 3 years ago

Ticketmaster is the reason I don't go to any events.

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Adalast 8 points 3 years ago

Honestly sounds like a RICO case to me.

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pacoo2454 47 points 3 years ago

“After facing criticism from both fans and politicians for its failed handling of Taylor Swift ticket sales, Live Nation Entertainment announced a "Fair Ticketing Act" proposal in February that would try to combat bots and ticket scalpers in the resale market. Nothing yet appears to have come from this proposal.”

No shit. What incentive do they actually have to make changes when the current system makes them more money?

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ikidd 13 points 3 years ago

That's because they're the fucking scalpers.

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DarkMessiah 42 points 3 years ago

It’s a subpoena. Comfortable doesn’t even begin to come into play.

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Adalast 5 points 3 years ago

That's what I was thinking. The oil and gas industry and the auto industry has a lot more pull and clout than LN/TM and they were both dragged in front of Congress. Do you think they were "comfortable" with their interrogations by unfriendly congressmen? Fuck no. Did they go without too much whining, as far as I remember.

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firewyre 42 points 3 years ago

Too fucking bad, I don't feel comfortable with you existing.

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toiletobserver 35 points 3 years ago

Another obvious monopoly we refuse to break up.

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Decoy321 4 points 3 years ago

What you mean "we"?

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BellaDonna 6 points 3 years ago

We...the people? Isn't that what US Americans say?

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Decoy321 7 points 3 years ago

It used to be that way. That was a looooong time ago, unfortunately.

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Fades 30 points 3 years ago

These goddamn capitalists pigs are out of control

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occhionaut 16 points 3 years ago

we need to harvest already, theyre shitting and squealing everywhere.

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TangledHyphae 30 points 3 years ago

I don't "feel comfortable" paying extortion prices, either.

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RoseRose56 29 points 3 years ago

Who cares if you feel comfortable? Did you ask me if people are comfortable paying high prices for tickets? You took all this money, and you keep doing it! You are a thief, my dude; you make people pay more than what they are supposed to pay. People are stupid too, instead of stop buying tickets, and report ticketmaster and live nation, they are keeping buying tickets! bravoooooo!!!

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RizzRustbolt 28 points 3 years ago

"Why don't you feel comfortable about sharing?"

"Before I tell you, you have to promise not to indict me."

"..."

"Promise?"

"... okay. We promise not to indict you."

"Okay, the thing is, I may have conspired with competitors to corner the market on ticket sales and bought up 85% of performance venues to lock in performers into using me to distribute tickets. Thus giving me near total control of the market."

"Yeah, that's a monopoly. We're breaking you up."

"YOU PROMISED NOT TO!"

"No, we promised not to indict you. Commerce doesn't need an indictment to pull your articles of corporation."

"Durnit!"

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SinningStromgald 27 points 3 years ago

If this doesn't end with Ticketmaster getting broken up it will be an egregious miscarriage of justice.

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n3m37h 5 points 3 years ago

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foggy 22 points 3 years ago

Go. Fuck. Yourselves.

With a 10 inch dildo.

I hope their fucking shareholders do time.

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GobiasIndustries 16 points 3 years ago

Add another 8 inches worth of services fees in there too.

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BearOfaTime 5 points 3 years ago

Pineapple is more appropriate

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Decoy321 20 points 3 years ago

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14th_cylon 6 points 3 years ago

well good news everyone - you most definitely can try that 😆

and you will be about as succesful as they will be with their subpoena refusal.

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BeardedSingleMalt 20 points 3 years ago

A local, small time hockey team has middle-arena ticket for $13. The price almost doubles because they use tm. $10 in cOnVeNiEnCe fees and processing and the "privilege" of using their shitty app.

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hydrashok 20 points 3 years ago

Thankfully, subpoenas don’t care about how comfortable you are.

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BeautifulMind 14 points 3 years ago

Oh no, they're uncomfortable?

All the more reason for them to comply, really

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mostNONheinous 12 points 3 years ago

Why aren’t you comfortable sharing information with congress?

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Brkdncr 12 points 3 years ago

Nice! Let’s do insurance next!

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reddig33 12 points 3 years ago

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Szymon 10 points 3 years ago

Don't worry, they'll be doing it another 40

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Synthead 11 points 3 years ago

$30? That'll be $180, please. -TicketMaster

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reverendsteveii 8 points 3 years ago

if congress wanted your testimony do you think that your comfort would be a factor in what they do and how they do it? The law is different for the very rich. It's aspirational rather than authoritative. "We would really like to comply, but I just don't think it's gonna work out."

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Skates 5 points 3 years ago

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MuuuaadDib 5 points 3 years ago

Local mom has one weird trick to tell Congress to pound sand, Congressman hate her for it!

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Blapoo 4 points 3 years ago

D'aww the poor dears. Wouldn't wanna make them uncomfortable

pinches cheek

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Lauchs 4 points 3 years ago

Is it unreasonable to pray this is the thing that gets young voters to actually vote?

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theneverfox 1 point 3 years ago

They have plenty of reasons, this is just a clear cut example to point to and say "see? This right here is going on everywhere, and that's why things suck. This shit right here - this is the problem"

It's got attention and hardly anyone is defending Ticketmaster... They're pretty universally hated, even my conservative family members who reflexively jump up to defend businesses complain about them

I hope people will start looking at Amazon, Google, Facebook, grocery store suppliers, and everywhere else, and see the same patterns of companies racing each other to make worse products at higher prices

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sp451 3 points 3 years ago

Here in Germany there are some venues that sell their tickets through dice.fm which seems not to charge extreme fees. Is this something that’s also available where you folks are?

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ThirdWorldOrder 7 points 3 years ago

Live nation owns all the event locations, so not really. It’s really ridiculous. Back in the early 2000s or late 90’s you could get tickets for good bands at around $15-30. All day festivals would be around $20 and 3 day events were something like $100.

Can’t even see nickleback now for $100

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n3m37h 7 points 3 years ago

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harry_balzac 2 points 3 years ago

It's a tax on bad taste.

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helenslunch 1 point 3 years ago

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