Van Halen Accused of Ticketmaster Scalping Scheme

i guess $90 million wasn't enough...

Well, this doesn't surprise me in the least. Just take a look sells for most of the major acts that were out on the road this year and you will find that most of them were doing the same thing. The trouble is folks, as long as you are willing to pay these prices, it going to continue. The bands, venues, management, etc...couldn't stop ticket scalping so in the guise of offering you "Premium Tickets" they jumped into bed with them so they could get their share of the take. Every body and their brother have their hands in the pot and now that Ticketmaster and Live Nation are merging, it's only going to get worse. They'll own most of the venues, run most of the bands merchandise stores, sell all the tickets. Going to see a band will soon be a luxury for most. The music industry is going to ruin it just like they do everything else. They all are going to jump on the get as rich as possible while the public will still buy it band wagon until they drive it into the ground. And don't even get me started on some of the other pocket pickers the groups are using to take advantage of their own fans with (like I Love All Access).

Concert tickets are too expensive even before TicketMaster tacks on the service fee. That said, if ya do the math, one show with 30,000 people at $15 TM fee (I dont know what the fees are anymore) is $450,000. Thats off one show! Scalping is a business too, I bought scalped tickets to a football game a few years back and the scalper gave me his business card. Also, look in the classifieds, they advertise everyday. What does a band make at these shows? Hard to say, after all the costs are tallied up. But as long as the stadiums fill up for these shows, that tells the organizers that people are willing to pay the price. If people stop buying tickets because they are too expensive, then you just watch the prices drop. Unfortunately I dont see that happening. I dont go to concerts anymore, I refuse to pay the money and I dont like the system of how to buy, but my empty seat will surely be filled with someone willing to pay. As for VH scalping? Hard to imagine as I dont see them needing the money after all the regular sales and merchandising since Im sure the shows all sold out but shame on them if they did!

I have never seen a live band that lived up to their recordings! Live concerts are always a big, smelly bunch of rude people. Try to get to the bathrooms, and when you do they're covered with piss. I would never buy a live concert ticket for any price - wouldn't even go for free. They would have to pay me.

CONGRESS! hahahaha thats funny, they are even bigger crooks!...This has been happening for AGES! Scalpers make out,whats bad is that, just how many bands have done this and wasnt caught?..You cant get online anymore and buy a kick ass seat to a show...You'd be LUCKY to get a seat in AA or A even B section...PIT HA!..riiight! Clubs get those, thats if the band has one..You can get LUCKY and score a good seat soemtimes...But I just get sick when I hear that a ticket that was going for 60 - 80 bucks goes for hundreds or thousands, and boots the little guy out cause of greedy ass people who dont even go or buy for the love of the music...Sad but they call it a "business"..Its called a rip off dummies!.. My statement is in GENERAL...

Ticketmaster??? get it right, it's TicketMonster

I was able to bring my three sons to see Dire Straits in the 80's with great seats. As a broke single parent, we were all still able to have that experience. That wouldn't be a possibility for a mother now, which I feel is very sad and shame on Ticketmaster. I have refused to support the gouging the last decade, and just miss attending to take a stand...I doubt they notice.

No shock to me at all, one post had it right on the money, Eddie & Alex are greedy, Sammy had issues with the bands management as far back as the early 90's before he & Eddie split the sheets in 96. Sammy publicly said we would be stoked to continue playing with the band if not for the management. Sammy wasn't about the money, neither was Michael. Roth left in 84 to pursue bigger & better things which apparently never panned out. Best thing that ever happened to him was getting back with Eddie & Alex but it's NOTHING like it was! Sorry all you DLR fans but Sammy has way more talent, personality and integrity than either of the Van Halen brothers or DLR. Sammy lifted that band up in a big way after Dave's head got too big for even himself. Watch just about any youtube video from the early Van Halen days, DLR was so drunk in most live performances that he either was stumbling around, coming in late on vocals and then needing to talk rather than sing the vocals like he's supposed to or just screaming instead of singing. The only time the guy was sober was when doing a video or actually in the studio. Yeah, the albums & cds sound terrific, he sucks live!

I had been meaning to do so after getting gouged recently, but after reading this I decided to cancel my Ticketmaster account. See ya!

We go to very few concerts by big acts. The are ripoffs! I prefer supper clubs where I can enjoy a gourmet meal, a bottle of wine and have a more intimate listening experience. During the summer and spring months many cities sponsor free bands each week on the town plaza to attract shoppers back to downtown main street. Get out, get some fresh air, meet new friends and enjoy yourself. I also have my IPod and a laptop, so I can start a party anywhere, anytime, mixing, and enjoying all my music commercial free. Life is very good!