The music industry has historically always screwed musicians. I doubt that has changed at all. The only way for a big act to finally be somewhat more in the driver’s seat is if they last long enough to be negotiating a contract renewal or seeking better offers elsewhere as an established big act upon the expiration of their previous contract. Even then, their power is limited. The big money holds all the cards. That’s true universally not just in music.

Ticketmaster is setting prices based on what the market will bear. One can easily argue that they have also manipulated the market to exert undue control over it which contributes significantly to this problem. No artist that wants to play at Ticketmaster venues is dictating what ticket prices will be. There may be negotiations particularly regarding percentages but Ticketmaster is negotiating from a position of substantial power. Neither side wants to throw away money I’m sure but Ticketmaster has far deeper pockets than any musical act on this planet. You can from this imagine who’s in the driver’s seat and who is not generally speaking.

Until a significant number of venue seats remain empty and profits are impacted prices will not go anywhere but up.

This is just one example of what can go wrong with unbridled capitalism. Human decency is not anything we can depend on particularly when the temptations of wealth and power are factored into the equation.

What’s going on with ticket prices and how we got here is just a micro example of a far larger problem impacting nearly every aspect of our lives. In other words if you really want change, change begins with you. What the hell does that mean exactly? It means participating actively in the governance of the place where you live. That’s where you can get results over time. A boycott by those feeling wronged won’t work because those who can afford it will still go as they are now. Ticketmaster knows as so many large businesses do that a passive public and a corrupt government subject to undue outside influence (campaign contributions, lobbying) means they have little to worry about. Consumers complain and companies apply the usual spin and life goes on.