What do Zach Bryan, President Joe Biden, and Garth Brooks have in common? All three of them have spoken up about Ticketmaster’s unfair pricing model and its impact on American consumers.
On Nov. 3, the President seemed to call out the event sales and distribution company via his verified Twitter account, labeling hidden junk fees a “pain.”
“I know hidden junk fees – like processing fees on concert tickets – are a pain. They’re unfair, deceptive, and add up,” Biden said. “That’s why, last week, I called on my Administration to crack down on these fees and put that money back in your pocket.”
I know hidden junk fees – like processing fees on concert tickets – are a pain.
They’re unfair, deceptive, and add up.
That’s why, last week, I called on my Administration to crack down on these fees and put that money back in your pocket.
— President Biden (@POTUS) November 3, 2022
A variety of social media users responded to the President’s post, including media and social welfare organization, A More Perfect Union, who accused the event giant of “destroying live music.”
“Ticketmaster is destroying live music. Its scam fees now cost as much as 78% of a ticket,” the organization tweeted. “It controls the events, the venues, even the artists. The Justice Department needs to take on Ticketmaster’s monopoly.”
The organization wasn’t alone in its opinion.
https://twitter.com/zachlanebryan/status/1583300720614219776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1583300720614219776%7Ctwgr%5E6bfa157b3b81006e22fa5f37dc2a0bb1f4c4d124%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whiskeyriff.com%2F2022%2F11%2F01%2Fzach-bryan-taylor-swift-fans-president-biden-denounce-ticketmasters-pricing-fees%2F
Country singer Zac Bryan re-posted the organization’s tweet, writing, “SUITS RUINING LIVE MUSIC.” The comment earned Bryan a ton of praise, with one user responding, “WE ALL HATE TICKETMASTER.” Alternative country band American Aquarium also joined in on the conversation, adding, “PREACH!!!”
Bryan’s recent comments follow a previous Twitter exchange with a fan who told him ticket prices for his concerts were “insane.”
“[That’s] probably because they’ve been on sale for 6 months now and it’s two days before the show. [I’m] not trying to be an a-s, just done my research and asked a lot of fans what they’ve paid for tickets after a few my shows, this isn’t directed at you personally at all,” Bryan told the fan.
“[I] also want to make it clear that resale ticket prices have no correlation in how much I get from shows! I have consistently tried so so so hard to make tickets as cheap as they could possibly be,” he added.
Back in August, country superstar Garth Brooks also called out Ticketmaster over its use of dynamic pricing and urged the event giant to “knock out scalping.”
Friendly reminder…Ticketmaster sucks. https://t.co/creXYtYUu1
— 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊 (@brief_illusions) November 4, 2022
In a conversation with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Brooks shared how the model was affecting fans trying to purchase tickets to see Bruce Springsteen. “That’s a tough one. Bruce Springsteen is going through it right now. We’re all watching it. Here’s the bottom line for me, and I know this is silly, but I have screamed and screamed as long as you’ve known me: just knock out scalping,” the “Friends In Low Places” singer said.
“That’s it. Just make it illegal. That way, the price of the ticket is the price of the ticket,” he continued. “The same money is going to be exchanged when scalping tickets, it’s just now who gets the money, that’s the difference. The thing I hate about it, the hardest it’s on is the fan, the one who allows you to live your dream.”
Garth Brooks Calls Out Ticketmaster’s Dynamic Pricing: “Just Knock Out Scalping… Make It Illegal”
While speaking with the outlet, Brooks referenced an incident where Springsteen’s ticket sales for his The Boss Tour skyrocketed to $4,000 as a result of Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing model. A similar incident forced Adele to have to re-schedule shows planned for her Las Vegas residency. Both drew the ire of fans who were eager to attend the shows.
