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The Department of Justice's (U.S.) antitrust investigation into LiveNation and its desire to break up the merger that allowed Ticketmaster and LiveNation to become one may be more than what it looks to be. Just like one person's behaviour (alleged) created the "Me Too" movement and was, as I said the morning that news broke, "the tip of the iceberg," so too is this shot across the bow. The entertainment industry has been rife with all kinds of business arrangements that defy anti-trust concepts. Conflicts of interest, much like in the startup world, where one day you are the enemy, and the next day the best friend, so too do those types of relationships exist, often masked by "attorney-client privilege, " "confidentiality agreements," "hush money" or "NDAs." Ticketmaster has forever been the bane of all venues. Few may even remember Ticketron, its ancient rival that it ground down out of existence through a sale first to Carlyle Group and then Ticketmaster. Even fewer likely remember the days of "hard tickets" that were in place before the digital era. Even fewer likely knew that (some) venues shared in the "service fee" paid by patrons to the "remote" locations. Those "remotes" were originally a minor portion of ticket sales for sporting events and concerts, but as technology rose, so did the convenience of going to the local department store or merchant with a terminal to make a purchase. The major money came through the venue's box office (remember the lines for concerts that would form nights before for the Grateful Dead?) or the local ticket brokers who bought blocks of tickets or were consigned even more. As Ticketmaster rose in strength and power, the brokers died off, the remotes became Ticketmaster locations, and the lines dwindled at arenas and stadium box offices over time. So, as the DoJ digs in, this will be part fishing expedition, part hunting lesson, but one thing is for sure: The more they dig, fish, and hunt, the more that will come out, and when that does, don't be surprised at what becomes public. Peter Csathy Tony Loiacono Charlie Lico #concerts #sports

With rights holders and organisers growing tired of outdated ticketing models, and ticket buyers demanding new and fairer processes, 2024 is set to bring a wave of significant and overdue changes to our industry. SECUTIX CEO Frédéric Longatte has picked out four key areas that won’t just be vital for ticketing leaders over the next 12 months but are likely to shape the sector for decades to come. You can read more about his predictions below 👇 https://lnkd.in/dnhDNV3d #ticketing #ticketingsystem #innovation #ticketingtrends

Ticketmaster should face probe over ‘exploitative’ practices, abuse of market position, UK lawmaker says. Ticketing platform Ticketmaster should face an investigation by the UK's competition watchdog "to protect consumers from potentially exploitative practices," with the regulator urged by a senior lawmaker to "take action to prevent further harm." In a letter to the Competition and Markets Authority, seen exclusively by MLex, former Conservative Brexit minister David Davis called on the watchdog to investigate the platform's business practices, which he alleged "involve unfair pricing strategies that harm consumers." "Ticketmaster holds a significant share of the event ticketing market, making it a potential monopoly. This dominant position allows the company to implement unfair and harmful practices," Davis said. Writing to the CMA's chief executive Sarah Cardell, the lawmaker raised a number of issues related to a reunion tour by the British rock band #Oasis, which reformed in recent weeks after 15 years. The group’s 17-date tour, consisting of concerts in the UK and Ireland, sold out within hours of going on sale last weekend. However, many fans complained about issues accessing the sales platform and "dynamic pricing," also known as "surge pricing," which meant some tickets were sold at a significant premium from previously announced prices. Tickets initially advertised for 135 pounds ($177) were ultimately only available for more than 350 pounds, due to Ticketmaster's system responding to limited supply and high demand, similar to other sectors, such as ride-hailing or accommodation booking services. #DynamicPricing #SurgePricing #Monopoly #Competition #Antitrust

🚀 Boosting Events Ticket Sales with Klarna's Buy Now, Pay Later Option! 🎟️💳 Did you know that around 50% of UK adults—that’s approximately 26.4 million people—have used BNPL? By offering Klarna as a payment option for ticket sales, you’ll not only attract a wider audience but also receive your funds upfront, even when customers choose to pay in instalments. With Tickxts, your attendees can conveniently opt to pay for their tickets over time using Klarna’s Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) option. 💡 Why it works: - Higher Conversion Rates: More people can commit to purchasing now! - Increased Average Order Value: Upsell VIP packages, group deals, or exclusive access with ease. - Customer Convenience: Offering multiple payment options reduces friction at checkout. Whether it’s concerts, festivals, or conferences, BNPL can make a huge difference in how customers buy, and it’s a win-win for everyone! 💼🎉 Ready to boost your ticket sales and offer your customers more flexibility? Start today with Tickxts & Klarna! #Tickxts #BNPL #EventMarketing #BuyNowPayLater #Klarna #TicketSales #EventOrganizers #TicketingSolutions #ConversionBoost

🎟️💼 What sets Upfan apart from conventional ticketing providers? 💰 New Revenue Stream: Upfan's platform provides new revenue opportunities for organisers. By earning a percentage of secondary market transactions, organisers can generate additional income streams, making Upfan an attractive choice for event organisers looking to maximise revenue potential. 🔗 Comprehensive Ticketing Solution: Upfan offers a holistic ticketing platform that not only facilitates primary ticket sales but also addresses the secondary market. Unlike traditional ticketing providers that focus solely on primary sales, Upfan's platform allows for seamless resale and transfer of tickets, providing greater flexibility and convenience for both fans and organisers. 💲 Better Pricing: Due to revenue from the secondary market, Upfan is not solely dependent on profits from the primary market. Thus, we can offer better pricing than our competitors. 🔍 Transparency and Security: Upfan's ticketing system ensures transparency in ticket ownership and transactions, creating new data from the secondary market and reducing the risk of fraud and counterfeit tickets. This transparency builds trust among fans and organisers, setting Upfan apart as a reliable and secure ticketing provider. Ready to shape the future of ticketing? Follow us for updates, and let's create a world where fans and teams thrive together! 🌍🎟️ #Upfan #UpfanRevolution #TicketingInnovation #YourTicketsYourRules

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into Ticketmaster, owned by Live Nation, following issues with ticket sales for Oasis' 2025 UK and Ireland tour. The probe will focus on whether Ticketmaster breached consumer protection laws and the use of "dynamic pricing," which saw some tickets more than double in price due to high demand. Oasis has distanced themselves from the pricing decisions, and the CMA is gathering evidence from fans to assess if the practice was transparent. This investigation is part of broader concerns around fairness in the ticketing industry. https://lnkd.in/gEfMdEvS #Ticketmaster #livemusic

https://lnkd.in/gqH9EMwa Service fees charged by Ticketmaster and other ticketing platforms are a common frustration for event-goers. But why exactly are these fees imposed in the first place? Understanding the reasons behind them can help us navigate this aspect of ticket purchasing with more clarity.

I keep hearing that surge pricing, of the sort employed by Oasis/Ticketmaster is legal - as it's the same thing airlines do. Except it's not. The 'surge' in this case was created by Ticketmaster. This is the same as Ryanair/Easyjet/etc allowing flights from London to Rome on ONE day a year. And then only selling them for ONE day. And then saying "Woah, too many people want to fly to Rome! These tickets are selling fast! Looks like we'll have to put prices up guys!" If you, as a company, control supply to create demand, you're not seeing a natural 'surge', but the result of *your own market manipulation*. Lets hope this brings the whole Ticketmaster monopoly down a few pegs. https://lnkd.in/eXKwMctM

As Ticketmaster faces scrutiny over its dynamic pricing practices, the UK government has launched an investigation into the ticketing system following the highly-anticipated Oasis reunion tour. This move reflects growing concerns about the fairness of ticket pricing and the impact on fans, especially in the wake of public outcry over exorbitant prices for major events. 🔗 Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/gckWHSP9 At W Talent Group, we understand the importance of adapting to evolving industry trends—whether it’s in entertainment, accounting, or other sectors. Just as the live music industry faces shifts in how tickets are sold, we help businesses stay ahead by connecting them with top-tier professionals who understand the complexities of their industries and can help navigate these changes. 💼 Is your firm prepared for the next industry shift? Let’s work together to find the talent you need. Contact Matthew E. Wallack at [email protected] or visit wtalentgroup.com to get started! #DynamicPricing #Ticketmaster #EntertainmentIndustry #TalentAcquisition #WTalentGroup #UKGovernment #OasisReunion #IndustryInsights

Secondary ticketing firm viagogo has commissioned a report on secondary ticketing’s economic impact in the UK. It may shock you to find out that the report is highly positive. It claims that the sport and secondary ticketing market contributes £733m a year to local industries supporting live events, and that it supports 7,736 full-time-equivalent jobs in the hospitality and retail sectors. The report also claims that by filling otherwise-empty seats, the secondary market contributes “£629 per seat in non-ticketing revenue to the economy, filling a revenue void that would be left by the primary ticket market”. The report is the work of the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), commissioned by Viagogo. The timing is significant: before it was elected, the UK’s new Labour government promised to cap resale prices for tickets, among other regulatory crackdowns on the secondary market. Companies in that market have already been mobilising to push back on the plans. This kind of ‘BEHOLD our economic impact! Please consider our policy demands’ study is part and parcel of the lobbying process, and the music industry regularly does it too. Read The Full Story here: https://lnkd.in/dZBnXwiC #musically #musicnews #readmore