[photochemsyn]

But mah free market ideology says competition will produce the best outcome for everyone, we just need more deregulation to fix things.

[HDThoreaun]

Ticketmaster exists because they kickback to artists and venues. This is is the best outcome for them. Supply of tickets is so limited that fan perspective is completely ignored, the tickets sell out anyway.

[vintermann]

Kickback? I wouldn't exactly call it that, since it's the venue's seats, and the artist's acts it's selling.

The problem is more that they own the venues, and aggressively punish anyone who works with their competitors.

[HDThoreaun]

Half of the fees go to the artist and venue. Ticketmaster takes the position of the “bad guy” to take all the blame for high prices while artists can say “the tickets only cost $40” even though the real price is easily double that.