An unlikely hero has emerged in the great war on Ticketmaster fees, effecting change which could reverberate throughout the concert industry.
Robert Smith, lead singer of legendary British rock outfit the Cure, put his foot down on those frustrating fees fans have gotten used to paying when buying tickets to see their favorite artists in concert. And in a shocking turn of events, Ticketmaster responded, agreeing to give a small cut of cash back to the people.
The money will come in $5 and $10 reimbursements to those who bought tickets to the Cure’s upcoming summer tour. It’s not going to drastically alter anyone’s finances. But it’s the principle that matters, and Smith accomplished what artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift and scores of others who have complained about concert biz ticketing practices over the years have not yet been able to do: he got Ticketmaster to budge. And that’s significant.
