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The Biz: Convenience or Ripoff?


08/29/07
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(antiMusic) In this week's The Biz editorial Anthony Kuzminski looks at the high cost of "convenience" and what the Ticketmaster Live Nation split might change if Live Nation is smart. Here is part of the article: It was reported last week that short of a miracle, Ticketmaster will lose its biggest client at the end of 2008; Live Nation (formerly known as Clear Channel). Is this a good or bad move for consumers? It is anyone's guess, but I am hoping and praying that it is for the better. I still see a lot of concerts, but very often use alternate means to get my tickets so I can get around paying the exorbitant service charges.

Why do I do this? I'll break it down for you based on a truly horrendous experience I had in the summer of 2003. At the time, the huge outdoor amphitheater outside of Chicago in Tinley Park was known as the Tweeter Center. The Counting Crows and John Mayer were in the midst of a co-headlining tour and played to their largest paying crowds of their careers up to that point (approximately 30,000 seats were sold).

I scored a ticket in the twentieth row a few days earlier and I was delighted until I checked out. Face value on the tickets were $36.50 and somehow, my final bill was $59.50 for one ticket. How can this be? - Let me break it down for you.

Click here to read today's full report

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