The Big Test Ticketmaster Is About To Face
Ticketmaster will soon face investigation to determine if they operate under an illegal monopoly scheme.
Anybody remember getting concert tickets before Ticketmaster was on the internet? Well, gather ‘round kids and listen to how Gen X had to do it. First, we found out that tickets went on sale for our favorite artists either on the radio or saw it in a newspaper. (So, if you even knew it was happening in the first place, you were one up on most folks.) And then we’d pray to sit in a dark venue for two hours with zero hearing protection.
Then, once ticket sale day came, we counted down the minutes and seconds until tickets were released. Then, came the phone frenzy. You needed to be on time because of the millions of busy signals you’d get. Once you got through, you prayed the stars aligned. You’d talk to an operator and you’d secure your tickets. In a week, they’d come in the mail. Yes, to your real mailbox.
Today, things are just a little different. You log on to Ticketmaster’s website, get a passcode from social, join a presale list, find your seat, and hit purchase. Tickets are stored on your phone or come to your email address instantly. Oh, we’ve come such a long way! Yay Ticketmaster!
Um, not quite.
According to NPR, this week was a huge test for Ticketmaster, which merged with LiveNation in 2010. Beyoncé announced her first solo tour in six years and a frenzy of fans will soon rush to grab a ticket online. If you’ve been tracking the Ticketmaster/LiveNation news, you know that Taylor Swift recently put her “Eras” tour tickets on sale and many folks didn’t get a ticket even though they had a code. LiveNation’s response? It was the bots. (“It’s me, hi. I’m the problem,” TicketMaster said.)
But fans cannot really go to another ticketing outlet without forking over major dough or going through other potentially illegal ways. Why? Because Ticketmaster and LiveNation allegedly have a monopoly on both primary and secondary concert ticket markets. And now, thanks to a grassroots effort stemming from moms of teen girls who were willing to spend a car payment on tickets for their “Swifties,” Ticketmaster and LiveNation are finally under the microscope to see if the company is indeed a monopoly, which is illegal in the U.S.
So, as the legal issues begin, Beyoncé is ready to put the system to the test. The most-nominated and Grammy-awarded singer, songwriter, and fashion icon is about to cause some serious online traffic to Ticketmaster. Will their “bots” make another appearance causing “Teardrops on my Guitar?” Time will tell.
Many lawmakers (and fans) are rallying for Ticketmaster to make huge changes to their business practices and Ticketmaster is retorting with “Don’t Blame Me.” But it looks like Ticketmaster will have another chance to prove its innocence with the “Renaissance” tour tickets going on sale.
The company will be put to the ultimate test because of Beyoncé’s immense popularity. She has had 3 billion album streams and over 41.5 million monthly listeners according to streaming platform, Spotify. While you’re there listening to “Halo,” check out how Spotify can give you your personal music color scheme.
You may as well do something that can bring you some relaxation as you purchase Ticketmaster tickets. Chances are you’re going to need it.
