Connecting Artists to Fans: Concert Ticketing in the Digital Age

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the current ticketing framework for live music events, highlighting the ways in which ticketing companies affect the experiences of not only the fans, but also the artists, and their interactions with the venue. While ticket companies are often vilified for rising hidden service fees, they provide a service to fans, artists, and venues that is often overlooked. Without ticket companies, the burden to promote a show would fall more heavily on the artist and the venue, and the convenience of a centralized ticketing mechanism would make tickets less accessible to fans. However, as this paper will uncover, the current ticketing framework is problematic. It poses barriers to access, particularly through the challenges presented by ticket bots and scalpers. Artists, venues, and ticket companies have sought to address these challenges through legal recourse, as well as innovative business models that seek to engage fans and connect them more closely to the artist. In addition, it may be possible to create programs that build loyalty between the venue and the fan, providing incentives for fans to attend multiple concerts in the same venue.