The answer is capitalism, I know.

But it wasn’t always like this. Why the hell are they allowed to absolutely monopolize all shows and venues? How are there not laws on this?

Is stopping going to any shows the only way to fix this? If so, that wont happen. People are gonna go see their favorite bands (and ticketmonster knows it)

I wish this one was as easy as getting rid of all my streaming services - but they really fucked us over for live shows.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      Ticket Ghost of Ticket Future: “Don’t buy from Ticketmaster”

      Me, in the Present: “Okay, but I still want to go to the concert”

      Ticket Ghost: “You’re going to feel weird in ten years, when you find out what Kanye gets up to. But you do meet someone at the event to hook up with, have an on-again off-again relationship for three years, the sex is amazing but you’re on totally different career tracks. You end up seeing other people, and now you live in the same neighborhood and your kids are friends. Which is nice but also a bit weird at parties.”

      Me: “Wow. That’s… a lot to take in.”

      Ticket Ghost: “Sorry, bro. I tried to warn you two weeks ago not to take those edibles because they’d give you psychic premonitions, but you hadn’t taken the edibles yet so you couldn’t listen…”

      Me: vomiting sounds as I clutch the toilet

  • BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    And congratulations, the current US administration now considers you a terrorist. Complaining about being abused and exploited is anti-capitalist.

  • LoafedBurrito@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    Something happened in the last 20 years where billionaires were able to buy the government and monopolies are now no longer illegal or controlled.

    I have a rare one, i’ve NEVER purchased a ticket through ticketmaster, so i’m glad they never got my money. Too much free/cheap live music local to me anyway.

    • N0t_5ure@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      This is the way. I’ve seen so many great bands at clubs before they blew up. Why spend hundreds of dollars to see a show produced for mass consumption at a stadium when you can drop $20 and see a hungry up-and-comer pour out their heart and soul to a hundred people. It’s a way better experience.

      • bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.worksOP
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        1 month ago

        You must live in very artistically rich city ! Im glad for you. Sadly around here its washed up metal (with lots of fake backing tracks) and rapping to a backing track, mixed in with bad country covers.

        • N0t_5ure@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          Yeah, San Diego, but I’ve lived in other cities with decent music scenes as well. Most major cities I’ve lived in have had a decent music scene.

    • bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      1 month ago

      Oh i do. But the music around here mostly sucks, and the sound guys are lazy and terrible. Im one of the best sound guys here that actually tries, and I hardly ever do it as a side gig (way too many projects). I actually just studied sound (and the blade) and know how it works, unlike many (small time) sound guys today. And before you ask, I dont do it for a job because I already have a very good job. I have thought about offering classes on the subject locally.

      People want to see pro bands with an actual good audio setup and talent. Sadly, youre not getting that at a local level unless you live in a metropolis or somewhere where the local water creates amazing talent from nothing.

  • neidu3@sh.itjust.worksM
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    1 month ago

    Basically, through mergers and acquisitions they’re dominating the venue market. It used to be that there were many actors, but now everything is everything under the Ticketmaster umbrella.

    It’s convenient for artists, as they only have one point if contact needed per location in terms of booking, ticket sales, merch, and everything else around the concert/event.

    It’s convenient for venues, as Ticketmaster brings in business. However, it’s a double edged sword: Do something Ticketmaster doesn’t approve of, such as use a competitor, and you’re not getting the big headliners.

    It’s awful for the rest of us, as we then have to deal with a monopoly pushing up the prices.

    I am cautiously optimistic about the long term outlook, though: The Ticketmaster hate is widespread to the point where some artists refuse to work with them, as they feel their fans are getting robbed with the band getting the blame. And they are the ones with the leverage to turn things around - artists with integrity will put their fans first, and that is what will hopefully bring long term change for the better.

  • Tedesche@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    Unregulated capitalism. Specifically, unenforced monopoly laws, which the U.S. has been terrible at.

  • Boozilla@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    Consumers could fix it by boycotting them until they cease to exist, meanwhile buy merch from the artists you like.

    But this requires people to temporarily sacrifice their desires and experience some FOMO, so it’s unlikely to ever happen.

    • bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      1 month ago

      Very true. Too bad there’s no other way.

      Especially for kids who really like any older music, those bands will not be around long (many bands on the sick new world fest for an example are 35+ years old). So yeah I guess whole generations just have to miss out on that music they love.

  • rabber@lemmy.ca
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    1 month ago

    Was my dream to catch Rush on this tour. 1000 cad per ticket. I can go to a European metal festival for the same price and see 120 bands.

    Blame the artists too. Neil young capped tickets this year’s tour at 120 with no ability to resell.

    • spookedintownsville@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      Blame the artists too

      This. They’re the ones that set ticket prices, and they get the majority of the revenue from ticket sales. Ticketmaster/LN has even said themselves that they don’t make most of their money on tickets, the artists do, but they want to take the blame away from the artist to keep making sales.

      Not that Ticketmaster isn’t an issue. Vendor lock-in especially for independently owned venues has been a problem for a long time.

  • Dr. Moose@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    They are extremely litigious. I work in software security and they are notorious for basically having an ocean of lawyers.

  • hperrin@lemmy.ca
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    1 month ago

    There are laws and they’re probably in violation of them, but if you expect Trump’s DOJ to go after monopolies, you’ll die waiting.