[jallen_dot_dev]

> If a reseller buys the ticket, and then sells it again to the end user, Ticketmaster gets paid twice.

So basically scalpers are being paid to be the scapegoat so Ticketmaster can make more money, at the expense of artists and fans.

[lolinder]

And in turn Ticketmaster is the scapegoat that shields the artists from blame. The primary service that Ticketmaster provides is to protect the artist's reputation while ensuring as much money as possible gets made per event.

[bernawil]

This take is widespread and it's just wrong. Most artists are hired by organizers and just paid a flat fee for performing, the company then selling and promoting the event. Can you imagine what it'd take to organize an international tour otherwise? Some huge names may also run their own operation (Pearl Jam where notorious for this) but still just some of the time, they'll still do some shows in festivals or different countries where they are just hired to perform and not selli ng tickets themselves.

[gnicholas]

But don’t artists get less because scalping happens? That is, if they priced tickets higher to start, there would be more revenue going to the artists and less going to middlemen.

[differentView]

But not in the scenario described, where the artists get no additional money from resales.

[DrammBA]

That's right, there's no incentive from TM to "fix" this.

[zone411]

No, Ticketmaster is the scapegoat for artists.

[bernawil]

Anybody ever floated the idea that it's all tax evasion?

Company sells ticket officially at 50, black market clears at 150 off the books.

Were I'm from it's the most popular take. Doesn't have to be done by the company itself, could be just some insiders doing it for their sole profit.