Impact of Ticketmaster’s paperless tix
TEXT OF STORY
Kai Ryssdal: Maybe the next computer-related Chinese government order could address concert tickets that seem to disappear before they even go on sale. You’re looking forward to singing along with Miley Cyrus, but the only tickets available are triple the face value. Well today, Miley — and Ticketmaster — launched an experiment aimed at helping fans make ‘the climb’ out of the ticket morass. Jill Barshay reports.
JILL BARSHAY: Miley Cyrus hopes she can cut out scalpers from her next tour by selling only paperless tickets. Ones you can’t give or sell to someone else. Ones you buy online and pick up at the concert gate by showing your driver’s license and a credit card.
Sean Pate is the spokesman for StubHub, the big ticket resale site, owned by eBay. He’s predicting paperless tickets will mean long lines on concert night.
SEAN Pate: You know, we’re going to see a lot of inconveniences for the fans, especially of Miley Cyrus’s demographic. Her fans more than likely don’t own credit cards.
That means mom or dad may have to listen to the concert too. Not to mention how mortifying it is for a 12-year-old to be seen with her parents.
Critics say some concerts will still sell out quickly. And prices will be jacked up. The question is by whom. Don Vaccaro is the CEO of TicketNetwork, another resale site. He points out that Miley Cyrus’s management company, which is owned by Ticketmaster, is selling prime seats on its Web site starting tomorrow for $295.
DON Vaccaro: Miley Cyrus is in effect scalping her own tickets through ILoveAllAccess.com and pocketing those proceeds.
Resellers fear paperless tickets are really a way for Ticketmaster to control the entire live music market. Last year, Ticketmaster bought TicketsNow, a leading ticket resale Web site.
In New York, I’m Jill Barshay for Marketplace.
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