The Cure can't cure Ticketmaster's live event ticketing mess
Robert Smith of The Cure has joined the chorus of artists criticizing Ticketmaster after the company's disastrous handling of ticket sales for the band's upcoming tour.
“It's a shambles,” Smith told The Guardian. “The whole thing is a complete mess. I'm so sorry for the fans who have been trying to get tickets. It's not fair.”
Ticketmaster's problems began in November when the company's website crashed as fans tried to purchase tickets for The Cure's 2023 tour. The crash left many fans unable to get tickets, and those who were able to get tickets often had to pay exorbitant prices.
The problems continued in December when Ticketmaster canceled the general sale of tickets for The Cure's tour after bots bought up a large number of tickets. Ticketmaster said it canceled the sale to “protect fans from bots and scalpers,” but many fans were left disappointed.
Smith is not the only artist who has criticized Ticketmaster in recent months. Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, and Pearl Jam have all spoken out against the company's practices.
In October, Springsteen called Ticketmaster a "monopoly" and said the company was "gouging" fans.
Swift said in November that Ticketmaster's "unfair practices" were "killing" the live music industry.
Pearl Jam said in December that Ticketmaster was "a bad actor" and that the company's "monopoly" was "harming fans."
Ticketmaster is the world's largest ticket seller, and it has a long history of problems with its website and its customer service. The company has been accused of overcharging fans, using deceptive sales tactics, and engaging in anti-competitive behavior.
In 2010, Ticketmaster was fined $10 million by the U.S. Department of Justice for violating antitrust laws. The company was also ordered to sell off its TicketsNow subsidiary.
In 2013, Ticketmaster was fined $1 million by the California Attorney General for violating the state's unfair competition law. The company was also ordered to pay restitution to fans who were overcharged for tickets.
Despite these fines, Ticketmaster has continued to face criticism from artists and fans alike. The company's problems with The Cure's tour are just the latest example of Ticketmaster's ongoing problems.
