THE BLOG OF DRU #5: BIRDS OF A FEATHER, FLOCK TOGETHER

Recently, I had a conversation with a few people I know about ticket prices. And for those that know me, I’m a huge pro wrestling fan (also a fan of concerts, festivals, etc) and I was asked by one of my friends when was the last time I went to a main promotion show (WWE or AEW).

I had to think long and hard. For both promotions, it was in 2024. For WWE, it was before TKO started to poke their nose in WWE’s business. And for AEW, it was ALL OUT in the same year, a great, yet, intense show with Swerve Strickland and Hangman Adam Page culminating their rivalry in a steel cage match as the main event. 

But this article isn’t about TKO, WWE or AEW. This is about Ticketmaster and Live Nation playing foosies with each other and screwing over the public all at the same time. 

Let’s dive right in:

A jury recently found LiveNation, the concert giant that owns Ticketmaster, has been operating under a monopoly in violation of federal and state antitrust laws. The fallout from this verdict could have major ramifications towards not just the music industry, but how we go to certain events moving forward. This could also be the start of the break up between LiveNation and Ticketmaster.  The decision is a victory for 33 states and the District of Columbia, which accused Live Nation of unfairly controlling too many areas and levels within the entertainment and live event industry. Artists like Taylor Swift, Olivia Dean, The Cure and others have criticized Ticketmaster and Live Nation for the overcharge of fees for tickets. 

Other notes from this case were also revealed. The jury uncovered that Ticketmaster was overcharging customers by $1.72 per ticket (that adds up, ladies and gentlemen). So, Ticketmaster was making money hand over fist off the extra charges ALONE, not including the actual prices of the tickets to the events.

But audience, I’m not going to bore you with court/jury info and such. I’m going to tell you how I view this situation like I always do: this is another way of the rich screwing over the hard working dollar. Going back to my pro wrestling example earlier in this article, I’ve only gone to indie wrestling shows for the last few years. Front row tickets average around $30-50 dollars. And even if I have to order them online, I don’t have to go through Ticketmaster to buy them. In comparison to buying tickets through Ticketmaster, fees ON TOP OF FEES. No wonder why the public today can’t afford to see their favorite band, artist, festival, etc. 

This Live Nation/Ticketmaster ordeal has been going on for years. And I hope the consequences from this ordeal are swift. Make LN and TM break up. Stop overcharging online fees to buy tickets. Maybe even strike at other organizations who are doing the same thing. Nothing is worse than seeing your favorite artist or group in town, then come to find out the ticket prices are way out of your budget, mainly because of the fees.

Let’s hope more powerful companies get exposed for the sake of our bank accounts.