Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to direct your attention to the circus freaks on stage left. They're a musical act of the jam-band culture who blend rock with bluegrass, funk, blues, folk, rap ... basically anything they can think of. They are host to their own ticketing agency. They play for sold-out venues packed with thousands of dancing fans. They are The String Cheese Incident, and they are single-handedly challenging one of the most established facets of the music industry.
Ticketmaster (lovingly referred to by some music fans as TicketBastard) is a name we're all too familiar with. The long lines, the shipping costs, the surcharges, oh my! You end up paying $46.95 for a $35 concert ticket, but it's all worthwhile knowing that $.50 goes to charity.
The idea of another ticketing system is entirely baffling. It's been made extremely inconvenient for artists to choose alternative methods of ticket sales.
The String Cheese Incident created its own ticketing agency, SCI Ticketing, in hopes of maintaining a strong, more personal relationship with its fans. By offering fans more personal and direct access to tickets, it can keep concert prices affordable and still play high quality venues. As the band's fan base has expanded and more interested listeners have been "itching for an incident," the locations of shows have changed to accommodate more people.
Unfortunately, most larger venues and concert promoters (i.e. Clear Channel) have ticketing contracts promised to Ticketmaster. This causes problems for independent and artist-driven competitors attempting to break into the ticketing ring. Subsequently, Ticketmaster has allotted less and less tickets for SCI Ticketing, making it nearly impossible for any sort of competition. It is practices like this that convinced SCI Ticketing to file a lawsuit. In the suit, SCI Ticketing alleges that Ticketmaster has violated federal antitrust laws, specifically sections of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Ticketmaster is accused of entering agreements with venues and promoters in restraint of trade and of monopolizing, attempting to monopolize, or abusing its monopoly power in the market of ticket sales to popular rock concerts. That's an enormous undertaking for such a small, relatively unheard of band to take on.
SCI Ticketing isn't the only band to catch on to Ticketmaster's dominant practices. Remember Pearl Jam's long stint fighting the giant not too far back? I went to see Pearl Jam this summer. My ticket stub has a "Clear Channel Entertainment Presents" header, complete with Ticketmaster logo.
During that suit, Ticketmaster justified surcharges as a way to pay small fees to venues and promoters in order to secure ongoing exclusive contracts with them. It sounds strangely like a kickback, doesn't it?
Critics have long said the reason Ticketmaster has no competition is because there haven't been any well-organized attempts. SCI Ticketing is a small, independent, artist-controlled organization that caters to its fans. It's simple, easy to use and well organized ... but its isn't allowed to control more than a meager amount of its own ticket sales. Situations like this are absolutely absurd. Who should control concert attendance -- Ticketmaster or the bands themselves (if they choose to)?
There are too many components and agreements to know exactly how a victory for SCI Ticketing would effect the music industry, but one thing is for sure, it is truly an invigorating concept.
A small town voted to prohibit a Wal-Mart from being built on their parkland and won. Davids beat Goliaths every day. Throw some attention and support toward those fighting to keep the fate of our country in the reach of our hands. Write letters encouraging other artists to join the cause. It's worthwhile for you and your favorite band.
