Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Why hasn't there been a real competitor to Ticketmaster yet?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

111–120 of 250 posts

Re: Ask HN: Why hasn't there been a real competitor to Ticketmaster yet?

#111

Post by anitil »

manwe150 wrote: post #94
stephenhuey wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just tried searching for a long-form article I read in recent years. Wish I could find it, but obviously the facts are not a secret. It explained in depth all the problems with the monopoly, but it also pointed out something very surprising to me. A few artists have spoken out angrily on behalf of their fans. However, the fact is, the artists in general do financially benefit from Ticketmaster's way of doing things.…

Was it possibly actually a podcast? https://www.npr.org/2025/10/23/nx-s1-5582775/are-concert-tic...

I remember a Planet Money episode, but I can't find it now. Maybe it was NPR instead

Re: Ask HN: Why hasn't there been a real competitor to Ticketmaster yet?

#112

Post by kevin_thibedeau »

loloquwowndueo wrote: post #67
akudha wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looking at the world cup ticket prices gives me a mini heart attack. I don't know who is responsible for such high prices (maybe a combination of FIFA and Ticketmaster?), but goddamn these prices are insane. It is going to price out most people. Either that, or people are going to get into debt, just to see a couple of matches to see their favorite teams play.

Stadiums are still going to be full, that’s why it will keep happening. People voting with their wallets goes both ways.

The real crime is that FIFA is allowed to interfere with mass transit schedules for venues already equipped to handle large events. Non-spectators are being unfairly disenfranchised if they need to use public services they, and not FIFA, are paying for with taxes.

Re: Ask HN: Why hasn't there been a real competitor to Ticketmaster yet?

#113

Post by specproc »

The older I get, the less interested I am in seeing big bands. I'm lucky to live in an area with a great local music scene, plenty of independent venues.

I can't think of a single band I'd pay these extortionate prices for, I'd much rather support a local band and local venue.

Re: Ask HN: Why hasn't there been a real competitor to Ticketmaster yet?

#114

Post by insane_dreamer »

I don't know much about the details work (I don't buy tickets through TM), but I've wondered why doesn't TM just ban the resale of tickets? If someone buys a ticket from TM for $100 and resells it for $300, that person is pocketing the $200 difference, not TM. So why does TM allow it?

Re: Ask HN: Why hasn't there been a real competitor to Ticketmaster yet?

#115

Post by insane_dreamer »

jasode wrote: post #61

>With all the hate Ticketmaster has gotten [...], I'm surprised Ticketmaster still has a hold of pretty much the entire market. How are they doing this? This question is a common mystery because you're using the perspective of the fans . E.g. "I hate Tickemaster ridiculous fees because it's price gouging, etc" But the mystery of Ticketmaster being dominant is solved once you understand it from the perspective of the…

so wait, the problem isn't actually TM, but its the big-name artists? (not disputing what you wrote, just surprised I guess)

Re: Ask HN: Why hasn't there been a real competitor to Ticketmaster yet?

#116

Post by shermantanktop »

specproc wrote: post #113

The older I get, the less interested I am in seeing big bands. I'm lucky to live in an area with a great local music scene, plenty of independent venues. I can't think of a single band I'd pay these extortionate prices for, I'd much rather support a local band and local venue.

Are you suggesting that others should share your musical taste in order to punish Ticketmaster?

Re: Ask HN: Why hasn't there been a real competitor to Ticketmaster yet?

#117

Post by Marciplan »

bendangelo wrote: post #97

Hi, I used to work at a startup in Toronto that did compete against ticketmaster called Uniiverse. In the end they go bought out by ticketmaster. I don't know the details because I left way before then but this is one example of a company trying.

were they trying to compete, or just hoping to get acquired lol

Re: Ask HN: Why hasn't there been a real competitor to Ticketmaster yet?

#118

Post by KingFelix »

llsf wrote: post #110
ryukoposting wrote: post #62

From the point of view of the promoters, concerts are a two-sided marketplace. Two-sided marketplaces are notoriously difficult for small players to compete in. You need to attract good acts so people will buy tickets, but to attract the top acts you need to show that you can sell lots of tickets. Ticketmaster avoided the two-sided market problem until they reached scale. They were just a website where you buy ticket…

Agree... and not defending Ticketmaster, but regarding scalpers in general, I am not sure why one would blame only the ticketing system. If the artists are willing to say sell tickets for $50.00 and the demand is such that some resell to $400.00 the same seat. Is it the fault of the ticketing system ? Who is the victim ? - The artist who could have make more money (but then they could have price it better) - The fans…

The cure did this, we got tickets a few days before the shore, bought from reseller directly through ticket master but they could only be relisted at face value, got 8th for $75 I think, it was a great show

Re: Ask HN: Why hasn't there been a real competitor to Ticketmaster yet?

#119

Post by seanmcdirmid »

ryukoposting wrote: post #62

From the point of view of the promoters, concerts are a two-sided marketplace. Two-sided marketplaces are notoriously difficult for small players to compete in. You need to attract good acts so people will buy tickets, but to attract the top acts you need to show that you can sell lots of tickets. Ticketmaster avoided the two-sided market problem until they reached scale. They were just a website where you buy ticket…

> Ticketmaster avoided the two-sided market problem until they reached scale. They were just a website where you buy tickets, an IT appliance for promoters.

Ticketmaster had scale before the internet was really a thing. They had a box offices at record stores (Like Tower records) where you could book tickets.

Re: Ask HN: Why hasn't there been a real competitor to Ticketmaster yet?

#120

Post by conradfr »

loloquwowndueo wrote: post #67
akudha wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looking at the world cup ticket prices gives me a mini heart attack. I don't know who is responsible for such high prices (maybe a combination of FIFA and Ticketmaster?), but goddamn these prices are insane. It is going to price out most people. Either that, or people are going to get into debt, just to see a couple of matches to see their favorite teams play.

Stadiums are still going to be full, that’s why it will keep happening. People voting with their wallets goes both ways.

It's not clear they will be. Or maybe not with the fans that wanted to see their teams.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/ckgpv7v4p9lo

Post reply on HN