WATCH LIVE: Taylor Swift, Ticketmaster rollout examined in Senate hearing with industry execs

#ticketmaster #taylorswift #ticketingHearing
The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing focused on Ticketmaster’s mishandling of ticket sales for the upcoming Taylor Swift tour.
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[@ampmusic3852]

Lets go taylor. this is what real impact is. BREAK TICKETMASTER UP

[@Ayman-ch1zm]

❤❤

[@Taylors_AntiHeroes]

Ticketmaster messed with the wrong fandom, us swifties are brutal

[@alexachase666]

Really disappointed there wasn’t a discussion about putting a cap on resale prices so tickets can’t be resold 10x over face value. They kept talking about the consumers being priority here but fans main issues with TM are ticket availability and how expensive resellers are allowed to sell them for.

[@jamesanthony5681]

They can sell them for as much as they can, no? Supply and demand, market economy, good old capitalism. It's not as though they're selling gas, bread, or cheetos.

[@edgercruz731]

Nice, this has been happening for years but it only took a new Taylor Swift album and tour to bring it to the courts attention😂 hopefully this gets resolved. Ticket prices are ridiculous

[@mikesmelon5714]

TM/ LN are doing so many things behind the scenes that they will never be caught on. Nine Inch Nails played The Met in Philly May '22 and the band decided that tickets were not "available" or transferable until 72hrs before the show. The scalpers started sweating when they realized that they scooped up all the tickets to night one and couldn't sell them. Night 2 was announced the next day and no bots touched that show. Only fans bought those tickets and Ticket Master over rode the band and made tickets and the rotating scans available for online purchase through their "Verified Sellers" and Stubhub, etc. They left n2 alone but n1 was available on the secondary market even though the band had put this restriction in place to prevent such bot activity. NIN used to print the primary purchaser on the tickets and that person had to be there with ID when the entire party of 4 entered the venue. There's ways to make it hard for TM but it depends on the size of the demand for the band as to if they can make it happen.

[@_Mr.D]

Would have been so nice if THEY had been there! There needed to be more artist representation.

[@mikesmelon5714]

The first party seller should not be able to be the 3rd party seller as well. They buy back tickets and resell for a profit. If they were not allowed to be a 3rd party seller, the bots and "Verified sellers" will slow down and eventually have no incentive to buy tix for a show that they had no intention on going to but flipping them instead.

[@mackcity74gdn89]

So wats the problem with that.

[@CloveCoast]

Most importantly for the artists- The insane ticket fees are REALLY hurting ticket sales of artists. Most times I’m checking out a ticket I quit when I see fees!

[@reid1boys]

Boy did they miss the boat. They barely discussed "Dynamic pricing." The barely discussed how the secondary market controls everything. How would you feel if you went into a car dealership and sat down with salesperson to buy a car. He says, hold on, i need your name and social and he walks away. He returns 5 minutes later and he gets to see where you live, how much you paid for your house, and every single car you have ever bought over the last 20 years and the exact price you paid for each car? Better yet, how bout they had information on every concert, sporting event, play, movie... basically every entertainment ticket you have ever bought. They know seat section and price...NOW they tell you we will negotiate the price of the car you want. THIS is what is happening with the secondary market that ONLY at the 3 hour mark did the senator from Mo. start hitting on the big picture that I wish I could have talked about. They never discussed algorithms used on customers that allows them to artificially inflate prices. This is a HUGE problem and I pray that the Senate doesnt screw this up.

[@johnhopkinsjr3122]

Thanks Swifties, they didn't do anything when the same happened to the Dead and Co ticket sale.

[@walkingranger4943]

You are welcome girly. I’m a swiftie that got screwed over by Ticketmaster so let’s shut them down forever

[@Illyria1217]

@@walkingranger4943I was able to experience her fearless tour and bummed I couldn’t get tickets to her new tour. Ugh.

[@walkingranger4943]

@@Illyria1217 I never been to one of her tours and I tried going to the eras tour I didn’t get tickets 😭 I’m so sad

[@fluffylittleclouds6642]

Mr. Berchtold has the look of terror in his eyes while he defends a defenseless company.🤥 It is time for Ticketmaster’s reckoning. Breakup and breakdown their power. The company has bled the public dry.

[@djjf45]

They need a technology subject matter expert in the room to shine a light on the topics of shady ticket handling/selling practices that are getting missed (ie. Control of digital ticket resale minimums)

[@Hotshortie]

Senator Kennedy has obviously not bought a ticket in years. Tickets are mostly sold MONTHS in advance Sir. If someone gets sick, a family member dies or a test comes up, he's saying you can't sell your ticket. He's saying you already have trama, lets compound it by making you keep your ticket. With today technology Ticketmaster could create a ticket exchange room that sells tickets at face or just above face value, they could stop bots and stop scalpers from ripping off FANS.

[@BelieveInMyDaydreams]

Yes, I have multiple times sold or traded tickets to other fans at the same price that I paid just because plans changed or because the opportunity to get better seats came up. Transferring or even reselling tickets isn't the problem if it's done reasonably unlike what they are allowing scalpers to do.

[@sclogse1]

Maybe the family member can just produce I.D., but I get the basic problem. Having to show I.D. at a venue wirh your ticket, well, that isn't enough. Each ticket would have to be entered into the computer to verify the purchaser address, and it goes downhill from there.

[@reid1boys]

I worte my congressman months ago about this before Taylor Swift happened. This happens for sporting events big time and it should be illegal. Ticketmaster, who owns after market sites immediately buys their own tickets only to put them on the resale sites to double and triple prices for events they are 100% in control of.

[@christenawalker2944]

It's not just concerts! I had to buy expensive tickets to a local xmas venue this year. In previous years it was a differrent seller. It cost me DOUBLE what it did the previous year.

[@Drywithhumor]

I too tip my hat to criminal genius that is Live Nation. I find it appalling that man can sit there and with a straight face say they care about the artist or the customer in any part of their business. They only thing they care about is if the customers money is green/approved and the artist is submissive.

[@boedye]

I'm really glad ABC is on top of this -- really gotta manage those ticketmaster sales...

[@bassplayinfool]

"with an 'artist's first' business model" now *that's* humor! ¡chef's kiss!

[@iVioletYT]

Correct - not fair to the consumer. Money hungry corps not protecting the consumer.

[@jamesanthony5681]

The consumers can choose *NOT* to buy tickets, and if enough of them do that because the prices are too high, then the prices will come down. Corporations are here to generate profits and maximize shareholder equity.

[@iVioletYT]

@@jamesanthony5681 everyone is aware they DON'T have to. Still isn't fair to sell for 3-5x the amount they were pre-covid.

[@jamesanthony5681]

@@iVioletYT It's supply and demand. She's a superstar, I guess, and if Taylor Swift *BELIEVES IN* and *CARES ABOUT* about her fan base, then she can certainly do something about that. Other artists in different fields have done that.

[@iVioletYT]

@@jamesanthony5681 don't act like we don't all understand supply and demand. It's the outrageous fees on top of purchasing the tixs themselves. TM also way over sold PRE SALE tix so general population didn't even get a opportunity. Clearly you didn't watch the hearing or read a news article. 🙄 Lol. Have the day you deserve. :)

[@jamesanthony5681]

@@iVioletYT What, and Taylor Swift has no control over that? After all, she's the TALENT, and the TALENT calls the shots.

[@CGunterPortfolio]

Go back to the day when you stood on line to buy tics! I know this will not happen!

[@10Flat]

After the merger there was no longer any need to innovate. All revenue was spent to assimilate. Live Nation is the Star Trek version of the “ Borg”.

[@ericeandco]

Seems more like an DOJ issue than a congressional hearing.

[@TheMikemontreal]

Break up this company break this monopoly ban dynamic pricing, ban credit card clubs fan clubs any presales . All tickets go on market at same time and one credit card per person max 4 tickets and ban reselling from primary issuer

[@hristi.yanche8487]

my man clyde making me proud

[@morganfaithxo]

begins at 18:49

[@Bsquaredplus2]

The real MVP!

[@diorcoldd]

W WOMANS🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@Psychgeneral]

Thank you for being the hero we need.

[@andreaj1569]

Why would the lady introducing the witnesses say the guy’s line before he could. What a winner of a personality- steal someone’s line so you can get a laugh and then act like “oh, I hope you say this again.” It was senator klobochur.

[@joewhite9037]

I GOT MY TICKET AND MY FRIENDS TICKET, by the hair of my chinny chin chin, but I’m so happy I was apart of this!! I do feel for those that couldn’t get/never got their tickets. Us Swifties are a powerful force. Don’t mess with us. JULY 16TH BABY!!!!!!!!

[@jimmygeorge2691]

E wet c

[@MagnumDB]

Thank goodness for R5 in Philly. Those are the only shows I want to go to anyway.

[@HeyN0w]

So I'm confused what is gonna change now with this...I didn't hear what is gonna be different?

[@ColinoDeani]

Great testimonies.. they made some great points.. its definitly a monopoly in a sense.. if retaliatory refusals of venues is found then they should be broken up and RICO looked into..

[@takeoverusa]

Dear, MEDIA, SENATE, HOUSE, SUPREME COURT, MASTERS of FREE minus the DOM, UN, etc ie I just wanna say this with truthful honesty. I appreciate all involved in this senate hearing pertaining to a vas subject matter of great importance for myself and more importantly the God head and Creator that governs the true affairs of men and governs the very Nature and Universe. So allow me to voice my virtual appreciation for such attempts in bringing light to a issue of complexity affecting the very spirit and soul of the American experience from a real world perspective to a ever evolving virtual autonomous perspective. With that said, it is still very heavy on my heart and mind that such discussions of supreme importance can not truly see remedies in any institution of politics of any drowning congress or fire riddled structures of lodging. Therefore perhaps this incredible meeting of Masters and ones control over Taylor Swifts independent views and concepts foreign to many Masters but not foreign to the Creator still falls short despite a good attempt to bring awareness tot he masses As the very brick and mortal structural sits you all very well and protects you from the outside elements, lend this building to others for the proper building. For the very voices who speak for the top secret unknown and unseen can only give a regurgitation of what has been read or satellite seen in regards to the true transparent voice of the voiceless for the very communities affected no not of this double speak language and need more than senate hearings of any branch nor any Supreme Court to disseminate such language, let alone disseminate such deep topics of importance completely hidden in plan site to God’s children. Therefore shouldn’t one raised from the incredibly dumb deaf and blind, of American cut cloth be allowed to offer remedies openly in a real world forum ? Fore doesn’t the resume of stupidity of a Lore, to he having a understanding of the most complex issues declare a victory of understanding to over-stand the mastery of deception ? Therefore isn’t it appropriate for one resin from the dead without bear claws or any hand grips be sufficient enough to bring a honored protected, and respected view of transgressions to the table of Masters for even many Masters have no understanding of such topics unless briefed and educated via short cuts and cliff notes of club houses. As in the ancient books judges and high priest of any order can bring forth the very parents of a dumb deaf and blind to bear witness to ones ignorance, thus giving the option of only option to talk with the very one who can intelligible converse with those acting as the power of such broad parts of humanity, swath and unswath and all. The very neglect of the virtual text that came in the clouds has become real world and it’s vapors biz mark keyed, as before for in the beginning was the word and the word became flesh. Now let’s really talk common sense, above, below and on the surface of the air land and water if we shall assist in free people that are not subject to dom or doom via another doomsday for even before ones pow or captive could think an kindlegarden first grader was pledging a allegiance under a flag of commerce with liberty and justice for all. I represent the all. All the time in space and below. Love to all putting forth the effort, truly but let the elephant not in the room be transparently heard, you heard. Love JL

[@BobbiCurtis]

Berchtold, you are an outright liar! I spent over 20 years in the ticketing business in Vegas, managing box offices. Ticketmaster has several of its own fees that are collected from the sale of each ticket. These fees are contracted and added by Ticketmaster's system automatically. There are other fees that can be added to tickets by the venue, but Ticketmasters fees are charged on top of those, they cannot be avoided, and they are generally higher than the venue's fees. They are built into the Ticketmaster ticketing system and the venue has no control over those fees. I hope that there is a complete investigation of the statements made by those from Ticketmaster/Live Nation to assure the accuracy of their statements. Please take his statement that they don't charge fees and understand that that is the way they make money. Selling tickets is not a charitable act. It is a for-profit business. Any reasonable person knows that a company has to make a profit to continue to do business. Be aware that many venues use the Ticketmaster system in their box offices making it impossible for a purchaser to avoid paying those third party fees even if they purchase in person and not over the internet or by phone - if those are even options at locations (which includes a vast majority of venues in Vegas) once they contract with Ticketmaster to sell their tickets.

[@cas7224]

52 million people wanted less than 3 million available tickets. Even if Seat Geek, Stub Hub, etc hosted ticket sales, 50 million people would be upset.

[@dagmarb7158]

18:48 it starts here

[@lewinwanzer]

Tourbook answers all the issues talked about on this hearing.

[@PeacefulPariah]

Trying to see JID tonight - ticket is $129 + $64. Guess I'm not going.

[@intowngirl102]

I don't care about Ticketmaster I care about the cost of food and gas and safety in my home and neighborhood.

[@freedomofreligion3248]

Berchthold (sp?) of LiveNation-Ticketmaster gaslights by claiming "we" don't control fees, "the venue" does. But, sir, you own both, so you compete w yourself? Got it. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, yay! Interested to hear Sen. Cornyn's pitch on what tools promotes competition better than antitrust law. I smell a rat. I just look at Cornyn's voting record; mega-corps max $$$, average consumers, min. value for the dollar.

[@AverageJoe483]

I woke up and this was on . Well back to sleep .

[@maudewhite343]

I agree. Distraction.

[@JEM20226]

Ok, so you'll get this important issue resolved and then maybe you can look at the 38 mass shootings we've had this year.

[@harrisonwalkerp]

theres no way to stop the bots ngl

[@emilyhopeful]

2:49:31 for anyone interested, this is a Taylor Swift lyric. But I'm not sure if he did it on purpose though, lol Oh. It was intentional.🙃

[@ros4007]

KZbin can stop bots in live chat when the channel puts it on subscribers only, Ticket master couldn't do it with the billion dollars they spent? Would like to SEE where that went. We tried to resell a ticket after an injury, with their resell fees, we couldn't reduce the price less than regular price.

[@Genious.]

Nothing will change. This is all just a show to give the impression that there can be change.

[@Crazyw_thechzwhz]

I love Clyde Lawerence!

[@robertbolton9450]

Satan devil panhandle convience if someone buys it for you.

[@QS0924]

🙄

[@takeoverusa]

Top Secret. Yeaaaaaaaaahhhhh

[@justinwolz4932]

Although I believe Taylor Swift's music to be extremely milktoast, at least it's popular enough that the listeners can swing change, uh swiftly.

[@edyr]

Kris is tan because she is from Mexico

[@bobshowup2501]

The best way to fix this problem of bots and crap is to sell the tickets at booths at the event there being held at the night of the show and not on line..

[@aidanhasling7275]

totally get what you're saying but for a concert like this thousands of people would be camping outside the door a week beforehand to get these tickets, it would be insane. and trying to get 70,000+ people tickets the night of would take hours and hours. online is probably the best way but i have no clue how they are gonna stop the bots.

[@jamesanthony5681]

Wouldn't that cause a stampede as happened at the Who concert in Cincinnati in 1979?

[@sh3rocks01]

Not helpful nor fair for those of us who have to travel out of state. No artist ever comes to my state so I always have to travel. There’s also other obligations such as work, kids or taking care of others, school. We want to plan ahead and make sure we can go and are guaranteed tickets. Otherwise traveling out of state just to get no tickets and not see the show would be a waste of money and time.

[@AyoItsCoco]

hamburger

[@ВикторСавочкин-я9п]

Вы оплот поддержки нацизма на Украине

[@sheilajames995]

What a distraction

[@sclogse1]

From what? Cleaning the fridge?

[@evergarcia7307]

From what? Cállate mejor

[@music18021]

From what??? What's so wrong with making sure that Ticketmaster and Live Nation are being fair to artists and fans of which they are not???...

[@lillietc.]

considering the fact that ticket master is a monopoly, probably a good thing to be investigating

[@Illyria1217]

Distraction from what? Hunter Biden’s secret laptop? Hunter Biden’s laptop doesn’t effect the consumer, just MAGAts.

[@blackrain7465]

What a complete waste of taxpayer dollars and time, especially considering many Americans are facing food and clean drinking water shortages, inflation on household essentials, and some are facing homelessness. But because a few could not be entertained our legislators act. Sad, pathetic, and the reason we are in the economic straits we are in.

[@music18021]

You don't think that big monopoly companies abusing their power, demolishing competition and hurting the artist, promoter and definitely consumer is an issue to you?? I certainly believe it is and definitely not a waste of tax money it's about time government starts questioning merger monopolies like TM/LN and their shady business practices. Anti-trust laws need to be enforced

[@cynthiajones4332]

In the end times there will be a great falling away from the truth, lawlessness will abound. If you confess Jesus is Lord, believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead you will be saved (fromhell) Romans10:9 Please repent/believe, think about it. Jesus died for you. Love Ya

[@danhendrickson7708]

Amen!

[@dis9666]

Go Swifties!!!

[@henryclark4588]

Funny how you just had two mass shooting and only thing these hypocrite s are WORRYED about ticket prices really sick

[@gloriaratcliffeszawlowski4797]

This think tank guy definitely didn’t disappoint his daughters 🫶✨✨✨

[@sclogse1]

I thought someone like Senator Kennedy and I would never be in agreement. The fact that non transferable tickets is not a thing only points to middle management trying to keep their jobs by showing the brass they can make more profits. Is Ticket Meister a public company? Or will some day they discover that a bot is running the show?

[@sclogse1]

Looking back at this, I see all the problems non transferable. The first one is just the issue of the purchaser having to verify themselves at the gate. That takes time. It goes downhill after that if a family member tries it.

[@cutiehunter6286]

Taylor is the only artist who can make this happenned🥺🥺🥺 She and her fan Power!!!

[@the1-taylorswiftfandom56]

I think this is the MOST interesting senate hearing i've ever watched..& i can say i learned a lot of things over this 3 hours.. I know it gonna take time..maybe even years for things to change but for whatever its worth, this TM & Live Nation issues would never gonna escalate to this level, or unite opposition parties, lawmakers & ppl against a common cause without Taylor Swift Eras tour ticketing fiasco & swifties persistent cries of fraud malpractise by TM & Live Nation. This will go down in history books guys 😊😊😊

[@dorena76]

This was a very impressive hearing. Finally, we can see some bipartisanship instead of the stupid acting. And finally, maybe our consumers and the public can see our elected officials, making our lives better!

[@jillronan6786]

Fun Fact: Taylor Swift actually wrote a song inspired by her immense disappointment when Marsha Blackburn was elected 😂 (along with other Republicans) But at least even the Republicans seem to be on the right side of this issue- unfortunately I don’t have high hopes that ticketmaster will actually be broken up

[@leeraewi]

I lived in the UK for 12 years and was shocked to come back and discover just how awful ticketmaster is on every level. Ticketing generally functioned much more effectively there.

[@Drywithhumor]

Not live nation saying they have spent 100 million a year for 10 years and still haven’t fixed the problem?! Y’all made 11.5 Billion in 2019 and after spending 100million you still made 11.5 billion dollars! Like come on man

[@heathreeves6327]

Are yall messing with Taylor? Leave her alone. She's awesome. Don't make me ride up to Washington DC

[@yourturn777]

TicketMaster should be squashed! It never ceases to amaze me what these people consider priority. What they can manage to get done vs. what they cannot get done. At least this is a non party issue.

[@djjf45]

Really what we need is laws about how they handle the ticketing ITSELF. Allow PAPER tickets, that can be sold by the owner, AT ANY TIME, AT ANY PRICE! TM puts restrictions on mobile tickets to be resold or transferred at certain times at certain prices. If I want to sell my $200 ticket for $5, I should be able to!

[@ladyvee7664]

WhT about universal health care?

[@foodqueen437]

Hlo

[@Hank-ch5qr]

Waste of time

[@domingoomilis9113]

2:37:35 the way the guy at the back's smile faded 🤣

[@_Mr.D]

2:03:05 THIS is what the hearing should have sounded like! While being nice and amiable is always good, this was not the time for being overly kind. I felt like many of the Senators were behaving as if Ticketmaster was just misunderstood. NOT by their words but in the way that they tried to be so gentle with them. This is not difficult to understand at all unless you as a member of Congress, are lacking in intellect! OF COURSE Ticketmaster/Live Nation is a Monopoly!!! They should have been all over the CFO as to how wrong their conduct has been. There should have been ZERO, zero, no futher need for giving TM/LN time to restructure or change things. They did something very illegal and got away with it for years. They should dismantled post-haste, and allow people to get back to enjoying concerts and events. I was recently looking at 2 different shows. The tickets I wanted would have been $2000 a seat. The sad and stupid thing is that if the dates I wanted had not been sold out I probably would have paid for them, very begrudgingly! This is MADNESS, especially since that does not go to the Artist! And TM/LN taking such a high percentage of the merchandise revenues? DEPLORABLE! If the tickets were capped and the merchandise was priced lower (because overrides were decreased) then more TRUE FANS could afford to put money towards having mementos. I really want to applaud Senator Kennedy, cause unequivocally he was there for all of us as consumers! He was irritated, very stern yet fair, extremely logical and provided the PERFECT solution without requiring teams of attorneys and months of discussions. *Cap the ticket prices, with the input of the artists *Make it so that if tickets are transferred, it's at face value. Though it would make sense to allow resellers to offer the transferred tickets, along with a nominal $1- $3 fee, the challenge would still remain that upon opening, large resellers would buy up the best seats just to make that profit. The issue is that it prevents true fans from getting those seats! Which if EVERYONE was really concerned about those individuals, that would be the ultimate concern. *Separate the promoting, venue fees and ticketing *Cap the merchandise revenue share to 10% *Remand all 3, 5 and 10 year contracts. Send out RFP's and REVEAL the price that the contracts were awarded at. Everyone acts like "oh dear, there is nothing we can do, they have a contract in place". Folks, get it together, they have been operating ILLEGALY. All your subsequent contracts are subject to review and being revoked. That's what you do when someone does something illegal, that has impacted millions of Americans, financially. Let them keep their contracts? Absurd! If congress truly feels that TM/LN has behaved in a manner contrary to how the said they would operate, in accordance to the laws set forth at the time of the merger, then it should unswervingly hold them accountable and take things FROM them, not GIVE them time! They deserve nothing. NO fines, they just immediately lose things. They fully knew better. Bottom line, I wish that Congress men & womem cared about their constituents as passionately as Senator Kennedy AND the woman from the FTC did. They stood for us.

[@_Mr.D]

Oh the "FTC Woman" Senator Blackburn was very dynamic and impressive with her forthright questioning. Also Senator Hawley was pretty staunch and not playing games. He held Ticketmasters feet to the fire several times and said it like it is "you are a MONOPOLY"! Not "we are here to discover if you have done anything wrong". Best wishes to those three Senators!

[@leciel1133]

@2:00 I like how this guy thinks 😆

[@Penny905]

is this what Americas focus is on?? Our tax dollars at work for a Taylor swift concert?? Shameful

[@jamicub39]

I swear I wanna refund on whatever I paid in taxes. Why is one single minute of this happening?

[@od2060]

I was upset when he said 41:36 I was about to get the tickets but it glitch and then went up so yes the artist makes the price but Ticketmaster let the glitch happen and it raised prices SWIFTIE4LIFE ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤