Re: A fresh tickemaster argument.

["Jeff House" <whocasa@hotmail.com>]

From: "Brian Wright" <lump_16@hotmail.com>
"I do see Ticketmaster as a monopoly, but more of a Microsoft monopoly. It's 
not your only choice but it's more of a defacto standard in buying tickets 
for events."

I agree.

"As for the brokers argument, can't it be compared somewhat to airline
tickets? If you buy them ahead of time before the rush you'll save, but if 
you need to hop on a flight 5 minutes before it takes off you either catch 
the next flight or spend 100's more on the same ticket."

This is an excellent comparison - certainly better than the face punching 
one.  Airline tickets are a great comparison to concert tickets because they 
are admission to an scheduled event (a flight).

Ticketmaster can be compared to Sabre (the primary means of ticket writing 
used by airlines and travel agents).  Like Sabre, Ticketmaster  had a 
national monopoly on this particular distribution method.  Since the 
promoter (which is a near-monopoly) has only one choice in distributing 
tickets, TM can set their price (service fees charged to customers) at 
whatever level they choose.  By going to brokers and other sponsors, Clear 
Channel is actually weakening TM's hold on the distribution side.  This is 
an argument *for* brokers.

In the airline business there is no monopoly on the supply side.  Airlines 
have to compete with each other on price.  The airlines have effectively cut 
Sabre out of the equation by opening up their own online ticket distribution 
sites, and refusing to cutting the commissions they are willing to pay 
Sabre.  This undercuts Sabre's power in the market, and forced them to lower 
their fees.

Sadly, there little chance this will take place in the concert business as 
long as Clear Channel is in control of promoting the shows.

IMNSHO Clear Channel is the primary villan in all this.  Not George Bush, 
not ticket brokers, not "rich asshole" concert goers, not greedy bands, not 
Ticketmaster.

The good news is that the articles BW (thanks!) posted tell us that Clear 
Channel is not making large net profits from their operations.  This tells 
me that their days of total control are numbered.  I would not be surprised 
to see them begin to sell off holdings in the coming years.

"Professor" Jeff