Ticketmaster Resale website slammed after Midnight Oil sell out
The ABC has reported on fan dissatisfaction over tickets for upcoming Midnight Oil concerts appearing on the Ticketmaster Resale website, just hours after concerts went on sale.
Fans spoke out on Monday after tickets sold out in minutes, but later appeared for resale on sites - such as ViaGoGo, Stubhub and Ticketmaster Resale - at many times the original price.
A Ticketmaster spokesperson told the ABC that Ticketmaster Resale is a separate entity, and is a "fan to fan" site which enabled people to sell unwanted tickets.
However, the spokesperson declined to comment on whether Ticketmaster was profiting from, or enabling scalping, by allowing tickets it sells through its main site to be resold soon after at up to six times their face value.
Ticketmaster's parent company, Live Nation, reportedly made $1 billion from secondary ticket sales last year from its sites like Ticketmaster Resale, TicketsNow, and SeatWave.
Midnight Oil's Manager John Watson said he believes that of those who were able to buy tickets, "the vast majority are scalpers", adding “there are automated buying systems they use.
"Computers are able to jump the queue to put fans at a disadvantage."
Watson said the band was disappointed - especially because it took special measures to beat the scalpers on this tour, issuing printed, instead of electronic tickets, linked to the name of the person who bought them.
The band has urged fans not to buy secondary tickets.
Near immediate 'sell outs' of Midnight Oil tickets are the latest example of resellers accessing tickets and looking to sell them on at inflated prices.
European nations including the UK, Spain and Italy are considering making this practice illegal.
Images: Midnight Oil's concert at Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl (top) sold out in minutes, with tickets appearing on the Ticketmaster Resale website at inflated prices shortly afterwards (below).
27th February 2017 - TRANSPORT DISPUTE MARS PREPARATIONS FOR ADELE’S UPCOMING BRISBANE CONCERTS
24th February 2017 - TICKETMASTER’S MARIA O’CONNOR NAMED FEMALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
23rd February 2017 - TICKET RESELLER VIAGOGO HIT BY MULTIPLE SPANISH LEGAL ACTIONS
29th December 2016 - TICKETMASTER ACCUSED OF FACILITATING SCALPING AT BIG BASH LEAGUE GABBA SELLOUT
22nd November 2016 - TICKETEK AND TICKETMASTER RESPOND TO MASSIVE DEMAND FOR ADELE TOUR TICKETS
24th September 2016 - GROWING USE OF BOTS FOR HOT SPORT AND ENTERTAINMENT TICKETS REIGNITE SCALPING DEBATE
Related Articles
Published since 1997 - Australasian Leisure Management Magazine is your go-to resource for sports, recreation, and tourism. Enjoy exclusive insights, expert analysis, and the latest trends.
Mailed to you six times a year, for an annual subscription from just $99.
Get business and operations news for $12 a month - plus headlines emailed twice a week. Covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism, and venues.