[rrrrrrrrrrrryan]

Why use Ticketmaster, then?

I will sell tickets for your band/venue at whatever price you want, declare x% of the price a "fee," and give most of the fee back to you. I'll happily be the punching bag, but it won't work. Your fans will be upset with you, not me, for choosing a podunk, unheard of ticket seller that charges egregious fees.

The only reason why your band is going to choose Ticketmaster over my is because Ticketmaster already controls the market.

[donavanm]

No. You physically can not run a major (arena/stadium) tour without using live nation. They own or have cross deals with the production company, venue, etc. Even pre-merger they had their hands in many many many pies. Its not just ubiquity of the ticketing.

[bombcar]

Ticketmaster does exactly what you say but everyone blames Ticketmaster and the bands can say “it’s our only option”.

It’s a great racket if you can get it setup. Encore and hotels have a similar one.

[sixothree]

Don't they also own many venues as well?