Just a week after the Ticketmaster Senate Judicial hearing, the ticketing conglomerate trends again after fans experience issues purchasing John Mayer tickets. Beyoncé announced her much anticipated Renaissance Tour today as well, and Ticketmaster is set to handle the sale.
Fans pointed out the irony of John Mayer fans relating to Taylor Swift fans’ previous struggle to purchase tickets, as Swift has now famously written music about their previous relationship.
Ticketmaster out here uniting John Mayer and Taylor Swift fans.
— Andrew Hickey ???? (@andrewmhickey) February 1, 2023
Similarly to The Eras tour presale disaster, it was made near impossible for people to purchase tickets to Mayer’s upcoming tour.
It is literally IMPOSSIBLE to buy tickets to @JohnMayer, such a shame! pic.twitter.com/fMrzFQ2ORy
— Andrea. (@AndreaSalgadoO) February 1, 2023
Other ticket buyers accused the platform of reselling to scalpers and scammers, who charged hundreds of dollars more than the original prices of the tickets.
Deeply disappointed today with @Ticketmaster @JohnMayer the presale today was a waste of time. It’s a shame that your fans cannot have access to tickets fairly through this company and then selling the tickets upwards of 800% what there original cost is???? #johnmayer #ticketmaster
— Sammy ❂ (@samantharapetti) February 1, 2023
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Fans were not anticipating another Taylor Swift situation on their hands with Mayer’s tickets today. While he has had a long and successful music career, he does not maintain as large of a fan base as pop stars like Swift and Beyoncé. Yet still, Ticketmaster ran into issues.
Somehow, Ticketmaster couldn't even get a John Mayer onsale right https://t.co/doSz38c3k7
— UPROXX (@UPROXX) February 1, 2023
Beyoncé fans continue to brace for the potentially skyrocketing prices of Renaissance tickets.
Hey Beyoncé girl, please don’t forget you told us to quit our jobs on that album. Not too much on those prices please and thanks miss mamas! ???????? pic.twitter.com/swQHSdRtmf
— Tenille. (@tenilleclarke1) February 1, 2023
Today marks the beginning of Black History Month, and fans of Queen Bey theorize that she strategically chose to announce her tour today.
I do love the sheer chaos of Beyoncé announcing the tour on the first day of Black History Month.
— deray (@deray) February 1, 2023
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Ticketmaster is already in the hot seat for an investigation that may result in a split with Live Nation, their parent company, in accordance with anti-trust laws. The massive response from Taylor Swift fans is what led to a Senate Judicial hearing, and Beyoncé fans anticipate that her ticket sale may inevitably cause a similar effect.
https://twitter.com/rgay/status/1620849849750155264?s=20&t=xunHRv2jx7sPnqpVv48Zyw
ticketmaster watching the beyoncé fans coming after just dealing with taylor fans pic.twitter.com/Nt8QvJeSwu
— Alex (@alexxmalloy) February 1, 2023
Ticketmaster has already changed its presale system ahead of Beyoncé’s ticket sales. This is likely to avoid another massive controversy, and potentially further legal action.
you can tell Ticketmaster is really stepping its game up for Beyonce… doesn't want to mess with us Beyhive. there are 3 separate presales on 3 different days for a group of 7 shows, instead of all dates on the same presale like with Taylor Swift.
we're watching you TM!
— Brennan Suen (@brennansuen) February 1, 2023
Despite the seemingly better organization, people continue to reflect on the ticketing process as a whole. Before the conglomerate took over the vast majority of ticketing in the United States, buying tickets to see a favorite artist was a much cheaper and easier process.
Hey, remember when concert tour announcements were exciting news drops instead of harbingers of an impossibly complicated and bewilderingly expensive buying process that ruins the entire experience before it ever kicks off?
Anyway, thanks again Ticketmaster! You're doing great!
— Corbin Reiff (@CorbinReiff) February 1, 2023
Emailing Congress in advance just in case Ticketmaster tries to get slick. pic.twitter.com/Z38VvvkQR8
— Oh, Girls… (@KirkWrites79) February 1, 2023
Amid all the buzz about Ticketmaster and the high fees needed to see Taylor Swift, John Mayer, Beyoncé, and potentially other artists this year, President Biden stepped in. Today he announced a plan to crack down on unnecessarily high ticket fees that partially result from Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing system. Some of Ticketmaster’s processing fees, which Clyde Lawrence, of New York City based sibling duo Lawrence, claimed artists never see a penny of, are now as much as 78% of the cost of tickets.
This is the right thing to do.
Companies like @Ticketmaster are ripping everyone off, and Congress has the power to stop it. We must. https://t.co/lKDaQoUSRd
— John Garamendi (@RepGaramendi) February 1, 2023
Regardless of who everyone’s favorite artists or professional sports teams are, ticket buyers everywhere agree that there has to be a better solution to ticketing.
Society without Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/VdYYYRzJUV
— MIOW (Music I'm Obsessed With) (@musicimobsessed) February 1, 2023
Beyoncé’s first verified fan presale group closes registration tomorrow, with the second two closing on February 8 and 9. Swift’s presale only had one group for all North American tour dates.
Ticketmaster remains at the forefront of the anti-trust discussion, with Senators like Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota supporting new legislation. A looming investigation from the Justice Department could also be in the works, despite a deal that Ticketmaster and Live Nation made with the Judiciary Committee to remain merged until 2025.
