The Cure promised fans they’d worked hard to keep the cost of tickets low when they announced their 2023 US tour.
But on Wednesday, when fans bought tickets through Ticketmaster, they were hit with extra costs that, in some cases, doubled the price the band had set.
They stated in a statement, “We want the tour to be accessible to all fans, and we have a very wide (and we believe quite fair) range of prices at every show.
Frontman Robert Smith expressed his disgust at the result.
“How are they justified, I keep asking. In the event that I receive a coherent response, I’ll let you know “He assured me.
To be crystal clear, the artist has no control over the additional expenses, he stated in response.
Fans posted screenshots of Ticketmaster’s pricing breakdown when the tour went on sale.
Four $20 (£16.54) tickets were purchased by one consumer, who ultimately paid $172,10 (£142) when service charges, a facility fee, and an order processing cost were added.
Another paid $72.25 (£59.75) for a ticket with a face value of $20 (£16.54) in order to see the band in Phoenix, Arizona. The service charges varied by venue and weren’t necessarily more than the main ticket price; one fan claimed paying $16.75 (£13.87) in Massachusetts while another reported paying $15 (£12.42) in Toronto.
The Cure pledged to cut rates in a lengthy statement earlier this month about the ticketing approach for their first US tour since 2016. During this tour, there won’t be any “platinum” or “dynamically priced” tickets, with the exception of a few Hollywood Bowl charity seats, they stated.
In an effort to “prevent ticket scalpers from getting in the way,” the band also stated that tickets would not be transferrable. A fan will be able to resell a ticket on a face value ticket exchange if an unforeseen circumstance stops them from using it.
Posting on Twitter, Smith recognised there were “serious concerns” with the ticketing industry; but affirmed that the band had a “last say” in setting prices as they “didn’t want those values instantaneously and hideously warped by resale”. The Cure refused to accept Ticketmaster’s “dynamic pricing” system or “platinum” (or premium) tickets because “it is itself a bit of a fraud” and prices would change based on demand.
I had a separate talk about platinum to see whether I had misinterpreted something, he said when asked to elaborate. I hadn’t, though! “It’s an avaricious swindle, and all artists can choose not to take part. It would disappear if no artists took part.
News Summary:
- Robert Smith of The Cure said he is “sickened” by Ticketmaster’s costs
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