By now I’m sure you know the merger is official. Live Nation and Ticketmaster were given approval by the US Justice Department on January 25th to merge into the world’s largest (and basically only) ticket seller and concert promoter. The new company name is Live Nation Entertainment. You can expect to hear a lot of complaints about that company in future posts.
What does all of this mean for the fan? Well, for starters, it means goodbye to the little guy. There will never be another company that comes around to create a fair marketplace, because Ticketmaster will just buy them. I really thought that when Live Nation started selling tickets last year that there would finally be a little competition in the market place and the ridiculous ticketing fees would go away. Not so much. Instead, a year later, they are going to become the same company and the fees will live on.
In a recent Rolling Stone article (Issue 1098) Irving Azoff (lead villain of Ticketmaster and head of the entire merger) said that this merger is good for everyone as it will fix inefficiencies in the system and allow them opportunity to test ticket price ranges. For an upcoming Eagles concert tour, he wants to range the tickets from $30 - $250. Azoff actually believes that is a good rate. What?
First, $30 is a bit too high to sit in seats that are all the way at the top of the arena. And if it was ONLY $30, perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad, but on top of that initial $30, there’s going to be another $17 in fees (so now we’re at $47) and then there’s parking (add another $15). That $30 ticket just cost me $62…for one ticket.
Azoff needs to take his head out of his ass and wake up to reality. The artists that go along with this (U2, The Eagles, Bon Jovi, and more – yeah I’m talking to all of you) also need to stop drinking the Kool Aid. Fans are sick and tired of paying “convenience fees” and any other fee that that Ticketmaster can think to add on. Does ANYONE realize that if the fans decided to boycott just one tour, that artists (and their promoter) would take a huge hit? How about we price all the tickets at $30 and give the REAL fans a fighting chance to sit in a good seat without having to take out a small bank loan.
I would love to have an opportunity to interview Mr. Azoff. Does he really live in that rose colored glass house? He can’t honestly believe the crap that he’s shoveling. This merger will be better for no one but him and his (new) partner, Live Nation’s Michael Rapino. And again, we the fans are left holding the bag.
What are we going to do? Boycott seeing Dave Matthews this summer? Not on your life. So, I (along with everyone else) will have to bend (over) to the will of the evil corporation. It’s like taking care of the roadie to get backstage to see the band. I’ll feel disgusting while doing it, but once I’m with the band, all will be right with the world.
What are your thoughts? Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
What does all of this mean for the fan? Well, for starters, it means goodbye to the little guy. There will never be another company that comes around to create a fair marketplace, because Ticketmaster will just buy them. I really thought that when Live Nation started selling tickets last year that there would finally be a little competition in the market place and the ridiculous ticketing fees would go away. Not so much. Instead, a year later, they are going to become the same company and the fees will live on.
In a recent Rolling Stone article (Issue 1098) Irving Azoff (lead villain of Ticketmaster and head of the entire merger) said that this merger is good for everyone as it will fix inefficiencies in the system and allow them opportunity to test ticket price ranges. For an upcoming Eagles concert tour, he wants to range the tickets from $30 - $250. Azoff actually believes that is a good rate. What?
First, $30 is a bit too high to sit in seats that are all the way at the top of the arena. And if it was ONLY $30, perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad, but on top of that initial $30, there’s going to be another $17 in fees (so now we’re at $47) and then there’s parking (add another $15). That $30 ticket just cost me $62…for one ticket.
Azoff needs to take his head out of his ass and wake up to reality. The artists that go along with this (U2, The Eagles, Bon Jovi, and more – yeah I’m talking to all of you) also need to stop drinking the Kool Aid. Fans are sick and tired of paying “convenience fees” and any other fee that that Ticketmaster can think to add on. Does ANYONE realize that if the fans decided to boycott just one tour, that artists (and their promoter) would take a huge hit? How about we price all the tickets at $30 and give the REAL fans a fighting chance to sit in a good seat without having to take out a small bank loan.
I would love to have an opportunity to interview Mr. Azoff. Does he really live in that rose colored glass house? He can’t honestly believe the crap that he’s shoveling. This merger will be better for no one but him and his (new) partner, Live Nation’s Michael Rapino. And again, we the fans are left holding the bag.
What are we going to do? Boycott seeing Dave Matthews this summer? Not on your life. So, I (along with everyone else) will have to bend (over) to the will of the evil corporation. It’s like taking care of the roadie to get backstage to see the band. I’ll feel disgusting while doing it, but once I’m with the band, all will be right with the world.
What are your thoughts? Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
1 comment:
Ticketmaster is a joke. They have been driving up ticket prices for years. Why do they charge a convenience fee, when you print a ticket on your printer, using your ink?
I wish there was an alternative, but sadly the consumers are going to take it up the behind again.
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