Camacho Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 nymag.com Madonna Reinvents Herself As a Ticket-Scalping Profiteer In a despicable move likely to disappoint even the crazy fans who didn't hate American Life, Madonna has signed an endorsement deal with StubHub that will make her the first musician to earn a profit on scalped tickets to her concerts. The 49-year-old pop star will reportedly be paid a flat fee, plus a percentage of sales of all tickets purchased by fans who were unable to get them through Ticketmaster (because they were all bought by scalpers planning to sell them online at an exorbitant markup through StubHub). "It's the future of the ticketing business," claims StubHub head of business development Chuck La Vallee — and he's probably right, at least until Madonna, the Rolling Stones, and the other dinosaurs who've been keeping the touring industry afloat this past decade keel over from old age. Anyway, if you've been looking for an excuse not to pay $700 for a balcony seat at one of the shows on her upcoming Sticky and Sweet Tour, we think this is a pretty great one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camacho Posted May 9, 2008 Author Share Posted May 9, 2008 Wall Street Journal StubHub Enlisted in Resale Of Madonna Concert Tickets By ETHAN SMITH May 9, 2008; Page B6 Madonna's coming concert tour is to feature what appears to be a first in the concert business: An official ticket reseller that will peddle seats at marked-up prices to fans who couldn't get them through normal channels. In the U.S. and Canada, eBay Inc.'s StubHub will serve as the "official fan-to-fan ticket marketplace." In Europe, the role will be filled by Viagogo Ltd., a ticket reseller that also will sell "VIP packages" -- higher-priced tickets that include amenities like backstage passes and meetings with performers. The endorsements highlight the growing popularity and influence of so-called secondary ticketing companies, which let both fans and brokers sell tickets to others at prices that often far exceed their face values. Concert promoters and artists have long complained that they are locked out of the secondary marketplace, putting money in the pockets of speculators and middlemen who aren't involved in staging or promoting concerts. Sports teams and leagues have entered partnerships with secondary ticketing companies. But executives at Viagogo and StubHub called this the first time a major music artist has officially embraced the secondary market on this scale. "It's the future of the ticketing business," said Chuck La Vallee, StubHub's head of business development for music. "Promoters have always complained that we don't have skin in the game." Terms weren't disclosed, but people close to the deal said Viagogo is paying promoter Live Nation Inc. and Madonna a flat fee, while StubHub is offering a percentage of revenue on top of a fee. Despite the official status of the two companies, fans would still be able to buy and sell tickets on other online marketplaces, such as TicketsNow, RazorGator or Craigslist. But Viagogo and StubHub will be promoted in emails to fans and other marketing materials. The tour is the first for Madonna since she announced a $120 million partnership with Live Nation in which the promoter is to participate financially in nearly every aspect of the pop star's career. The album she is promoting, "Hard Candy," is the last under her record contract with Warner Music Group Corp. The "Sticky and Sweet" tour is to start in August, with nine dates in Europe, followed by 18 U.S. shows in the fall. There will be several stadium shows in the U.S., including at Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium -- far larger venues than the arenas Madonna has historically performed in. Prices weren't announced. Live Nation's contract in the U.S. with IAC/InterActiveCorp's Ticketmaster expires at the end of this year. At that point Live Nation will begin selling its own tickets for its concerts. Arrangements like the one with Viagogo -- in which Viagogo handles a portion of the so-called primary ticketing, in addition to resales -- could become more common on Live Nation tours once Ticketmaster is out of the picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeMySoul Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 geez, who is this hater that wrote the article? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADUSTIO Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 greed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ai Papi Si. Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 Wow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeMySoul Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 is this really a greedy move on her part or a genious business move to profit off scalper tickets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moe Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 You go girl!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOD Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 MADONNA IS THE ULTIMATE SCALPER!!! DAMN RIGHT BYTCH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagol Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 so this means we won't be able to buy tickets via Ticketmaster the same day of the show? I did that for the CT and got great tickets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shopgal1984 Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 We will be able to Bagol, Stub Hub and the like have always been around and igetting tickets in the fews days before has worked out pretty nicely for everyone up till now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glittercandy Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 It looks like all the good seats have been reserved for StubHub, Ticketmaster will probably offer the bad seating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagol Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 We will be able to Bagol, Stub Hub and the like have always been around and igetting tickets in the fews days before has worked out pretty nicely for everyone up till now hope so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bitch Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 Very smart move on her part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glittercandy Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 I'm surprised how everyone is happy for her, when their charging $5,000 a ticket and you probably have no chance at getting a good seat unless your willing to pay over $800. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cristela Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 what a god damn bitch. it's amazing the different views artists have on scalping. I'm a fan of NIN and Trent Reznor and his crew are having pre-sales for their fans. Whoever purchases the ticket has to show ID on the day of show to pick up the ticket, and then show their ID again to get into the venue with a pre-sale ticket. Trent is trying to prevent some of tickets from getting scalped. I didn't have to pay a membership fee or anything to purchase my pre-sale ticket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Probed By Greys Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 It looks like all the good seats have been reserved for StubHub, Ticketmaster will probably offer the bad seating. yeah, this is good news for Madonna, but horrible news for fans. Getting a good seat under $500 is going to be very difficult now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeMySoul Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 im not paying more than $400 for a good floor seat she's out of her mind if this is the case Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ai Papi Si. Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 Yeah this is pretty outrageous in my opinion. To actually endorse the ripping off of her fans. What a bitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GimmeSomeMo Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 What a greedy bitch. Jesus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glittercandy Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 At least we know all those people in the floor seats are a bunch of rich bastards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeMySoul Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 is this news official? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glittercandy Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 is this news official? Yes its Official! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ai Papi Si. Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 I dunno about official but if all the New York publications are buzzing about it then I'd take it as something that's pretty close to reality. I don't really get why she'd do something this blatantly greedy and oily, so I hope it gets explained soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GimmeSomeMo Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 I don't get what she's thinking. Instead of trying to secure her legacy, she's getting more and more desperate and greedy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest boytoyville Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Smart buisness move you must admit. Regardless of how one feels about it this is how artist are going to make money in the future because people simply are being cheap asses & downloading music for free! If you ask me this is the result! The music fans brought it on themselves when they stopped PAYING for music! I know it sucks for those of us including myself who don't download free music that is commerically available but thats how I see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest boytoyville Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 I don't get what she's thinking. Instead of trying to secure her legacy, she's getting more and more desperate and greedy. Get over it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GimmeSomeMo Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Get over it. So I assume you will gladly pay the scalpers? Good for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glittercandy Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Not really, her album is #1 in 27 countries, fans purchased it. Sleazy business move. Yea those of you saying smart business move, be my guest and be a sucker and pay over $1,000 for ticket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexz Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Jesus. 700 dollars. I can buy a car with that money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ursaminorjim Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Vile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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