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[CHORD HUMS]
[ROCK MUSIC]
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[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> John: WELCOME, WELCOME,
WELCOME TO "LAST WEEK TONIGHT!"
I'M JOHN OLIVER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK, WITH THE
WORLD'S ATTENTION STILL FOCUSED
ON UKRAINE, THE PLACE YOU NOW
THINK ABOUT SO MUCH, YOU KNOW
EXACTLY WHERE IT IS.
NEWS FROM UKRAINE HAS BEEN GRIM,
WITH RUSSIAN FORCES REPORTEDLY
FIRING AT EVACUEES TRYING TO
FLEE, AND AIRSTRIKES HITTING A
MATERNITY HOSPITAL.
AND THINGS MAY BE POISED TO GET
EVEN WORSE, AS RUSSIA'S NOW
FALSELY CLAIMING BIOLOGICAL
WEAPONS ARE BEING DEVELOPED IN
UKRAINE, WHICH, AS UKRAINE'S
PRESIDENT POINTS OUT,
OFTEN MEANS ONE THING.
>> Interpreter: ALLEGEDLY,
WE ARE PREPARING
A CHEMICAL ATTACK.
THIS MAKES ME REALLY WORRIED.
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN REPEATEDLY
CONVINCED IF YOU WANT
TO KNOW RUSSIA'S PLANS, LOOK AT
WHAT RUSSIA ACCUSES OTHERS OF.
>> John: YEAH, IF YOU WANT TO
KNOW RUSSIA'S PLANS, LOOK AT
WHAT IT'S ACCUSING OTHERS OF.
THAT'S GOOD ADVICE, ALONG WITH
"WHEN PEOPLE TELL YOU WHO THEY
ARE, BELIEVE THEM," AND "IF A
MAN LOOKS LIKE A PORN PARODY OF
A BOND VILLAIN, MAYBE ASSUME
EVERYTHING HE SAYS IS
HORSESHIT."
WE'RE TAPING THIS ON SATURDAY,
AND THE SITUATION'S MOVING SO
FAST, WHO KNOWS WHAT'LL HAVE
HAPPENED BY THE TIME YOU SEE
THIS?
SO WE'RE GOING TO TURN OUR FOCUS
TONIGHT TO THE U.S., WHERE IT'S
BEEN A BLEAK FEW WEEKS FOR THE
LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
IN ADDITION TO GREG ABBOTT'S
RECENT ORDER IN TEXAS, TARGETING
THE PARENTS OF TRANSGENDER KIDS,
HOSTILE BILLS WERE INTRODUCED
ACROSS 33 STATES LAST YEAR,
AND THAT NUMBER'S CONTINUING TO
GROW.
THIS WEEK, THE FOCUS FELL ON
FLORIDA, WHERE RON DESANTIS --
THE TWIN KYLE CHANDLER SHOULD
HAVE EATEN IN THE WOMB -- HAS
BEEN PUSHING A "PARENTAL RIGHTS
IN EDUCATION' BILL," POPULARLY
KNOWN AS "DON'T SAY GAY,"
A FRAMING
HE TAKES EXCEPTION TO.
>> WHAT CRITICS CALL THE
"DON'T SAY GAY BILL"
IS ON THE SENATE FLOOR TODAY.
>> DOES IT SAY THAT
IN THE BILL?
DOES IT SAY THAT IN THE BILL?
I'M ASKING YOU TO TELL ME
WHAT'S IN THE BILL
BECAUSE YOU ARE PUSHING FALSE
NARRATIVES.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT
CRITICS SAY.
>> HOLD ON, IT SAYS IT BANS
CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION
ON SEXUAL IDENTITY AND GENDER
ORIENTATION.
>> FOR WHO?
>> FOR GRADES PRE-K THROUGH 3.
AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE
THAT PARENTS ARE ABLE
TO SEND THEIR KID TO
KINDERGARTEN WITHOUT HAVING
SOME OF THIS STUFF INJECTED
INTO THEIR SCHOOL CURRICULUM.
>> John: WOW.
I'M GOING TO SAY IT.
THAT MAY BE THE ANGRIEST
ANYONE'S EVER BEEN AT A
STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL.
BUT SINCE HE'S CLAIMING "FALSE
NARRATIVES" THERE, LET'S TALK
ABOUT WHAT THIS BILL WOULD
ACTUALLY DO.
ITS SUPPORTERS CLAIM IT ONLY
BANS INSTRUCTION, NOT
DISCUSSION OF SEXUAL IDENTITY
AND GENDER ORIENTATION.
BUT THAT STILL LEAVES TEACHERS
WONDERING WHERE TO DRAW THE
LINE, AND HOW THEY'RE SUPPOSED
TO HANDLE QUESTIONS ABOUT
SAME-SEX PARENTS OR DRAWING A
FAMILY TREE OR EVEN BASIC FACTS
ABOUT THEIR OWN LIVES, AS THIS
KINDERGARTEN TEACHER EXPLAINS.
>> CORY SAYS TEACHERS
AT HIS SCHOOL ARE ENCOURAGED
TO DISPLAY THEIR FAMILIES,
AS HE DOES OF HIS PARTNER,
JEREMIAH.
>> AM I GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO
TELL THEM THIS IS MY PARTNER?
WELL, WHAT IF THEY ASK ME?
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
AM I GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO HAVE
THAT DISCUSSION WITH THEM?
>> John: RIGHT!
THAT'S GONNA BE AN ISSUE.
BECAUSE KIDS ASK QUESTIONS ALL
THE FUCKING TIME.
LIKE, "WHERE DO BABIES COME
FROM" AND "WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE
DIE" AND "WHY CAN'T ANYONE ELSE
SEE THE OLD LADY IN THE WINDOW?"
THEY JUST WON'T STOP.
THERE'S NOBODY THERE.
ALSO, IT'S NOT JUST
K THROUGH 3.
THE BILL ALSO LIMITS
ANY INSTRUCTION ON THESE
ISSUES FOR GRADES FOUR AND ABOVE
TO WHAT'S "AGE- OR
DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE,"
WITHOUT DEFINING WHAT THAT
ACTUALLY MEANS.
AND THE WORRY IS THAT TEACHERS
WILL FEEL THEY HAVE TO STEER
CLEAR OF THOSE TOPICS
ALTOGETHER, ESPECIALLY AS THE
BILL ALLOWS PARENTS THE RIGHT TO
SUE IF THEY THINK THEIR CHILDREN
HAVE RECEIVED INAPPROPRIATE
LESSONS.
AND WHILE YOU'LL HEAR IDIOTS
SAYING THIS BILL IS TO PREVENT
KINDERGARTENERS GETTING TAUGHT
ABOUT SEX, WITH RON DESANTIS'S
CAMPAIGN ARGUING IT'LL STOP
R-RATED LESSONS ABOUT SEXUALITY,
THE WORDING IS MUCH BROADER THAN
THAT.
AND WHEN ONE STATE SENATOR DID
TRY TO NARROW IT AND AMEND THE
BILL TO PERTAIN
ONLY TO DISCUSSION ABOUT HUMAN
SEXUALITY OR SEXUAL ACTIVITY,
DENNIS BAXLEY, THE BILL'S
SPONSOR, REJECTED THAT, SAYING
IT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY GUT THE
LEGISLATION.
SO IT'S CLEAR WHAT HE THINKS THE
GUTS OF THIS LEGISLATION ARE.
IT'S NOT ABOUT SEX AT ALL, IT'S
ABOUT DENYING THE EXISTENCE OF
GAY PEOPLE.
AND WHAT'S PARTICULARLY GALLING
IS THE SUPPORT BAXLEY AND SOME
OF THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS
WHO VOTED FOR THIS BILL HAVE HAD
FROM CORPORATE AMERICA.
AT&T OUR SOON TO BE EX-BUSINESS
DADDY, HAS DONATED TO THEM.
BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST DONORS
IS DISNEY.
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, IT'S
GIVEN NEARLY $300,000 TO
DESANTIS AND THE LEGISLATORS
THAT VOTED FOR THIS BILL.
NOW, ARE THEY MORALLY BANKRUPT
FOR DOING THAT?
WHO'S TO SAY?
I'LL TELL YOU.
I AM.
I AM TO SAY.
AFTER ALL, I'M ZAZU.
OH, NOT THAT ONE,
NOT THE FUN ONE.
YEAH, THAT'S ME!
THE FUSSY LITTLE DEAD-EYED BIRD
WHO RUINS EVERYBODY'S DAY.
THIS GUY.
DISNEY EMPLOYEES WERE
UNDERSTANDABLY OUTRAGED WHEN
THIS CAME TO LIGHT, AND BOB
CHAPEK, DISNEY'S CEO AND
BUSINESS THUMB, THEN MADE THINGS
WORSE, PUTTING OUT A STATEMENT
DEFENDING DISNEY'S SILENCE ON
THE BILL AND LISTING A BUNCH OF
DISNEY PROJECTS LIKE THESE
SAYING ALL OF OUR DIVERSE
STORIES ARE OUR CORPORATE
STATEMENTS, AND THEY ARE MORE
POWERFUL THAN ANY
TWEET OR LOBBYING EFFORT.
AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY NONSENSE,
ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY, ENCANTO IS
ACTUALLY AN APT REFERENCE, GIVEN
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN FLORIDA.
BECAUSE ITS CATCHIEST SONG IS
ABOUT EVERYONE REFUSES TO TALK
ABOUT ONE MEMBER OF THEIR
FAMILY, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE
A LESSON PLAN DESIGNED BY
RON DESANTIS SPECIFICALLY FOR
THAT KINDERGARTEN TEACHER FROM
EARLIER.
AND HERE'S THE THING: GENERALLY,
MOVIES CAN AFFECT HOW PEOPLE
VIEW THE WORLD.
BUT IS THIS REALLY A PATH YOU
WANT TO GO DOWN, DISNEY?
BECAUSE YOU'RE THE SAME COMPANY
THAT'S CODED BASICALLY EVERY
VILLAIN IN YOUR MOVIES AS GAY,
STEREOTYPED MINORITIES TO A
BREATHTAKING DEGREE, AND HAD
SOMETHING CALLED A "WENCH
AUCTION" IN PLACE AT DISNEYLAND
UNTIL 2018.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'VE HAD
A 100% NET POSITIVE EFFECT.
SO CHAPEK'S STATEMENT DIDN'T GO
OVER WELL.
TWO DAYS LATER,
ON A SHAREHOLDER CALL, HE TOOK
ANOTHER SWING, EXPRESSING
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL, AND
SAYING THIS.
>> WHEN WE DONATE MONEY TO
DIFFERENT POLITICAL CANDIDATES,
WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW THEY'RE
GOING TO VOTE GOING FORWARD
INTO THE FUTURE.
>> John: THAT IS SUCH BULLSHIT,
IT'S ACTIVELY INSULTING.
BECAUSE THAT'S NOT HOW DONATING
WORKS.
WHEN YOU DONATE MONEY,
YOU GENERALLY KNOW WHAT THE
RECIPIENT IS GOING TO DO WITH
IT.
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE GIVE TO
FEEDING AMERICA AND NOT FEEDING
AMERICA OR MAYBE TAKE FOOD AWAY
FROM AMERICA AND PUT IT IN A BIG
HOLE, WHO REALLY KNOWS?
AND DISNEY SHOULD ABSOLUTELY
HAVE HAD A GOOD IDEA HOW DENNIS
BAXLEY WOULD VOTE WHEN THEY GAVE
HIM MONEY, GIVEN HE'S NOT BEEN
SHY ABOUT SHARING HIS VIEWS ON A
HOST OF TOPICS.
HE ONCE SUGGESTED ABORTION IS
CAUSING EUROPEANS TO BE REPLACED
BY IMMIGRANTS AND IS PAVING THE
WAY FOR THE END OF WESTERN
CIVILIZATION, AND AS RECENTLY AS
2020, HE JOINED OTHERS IN FILING
BILLS TO REPEAL PROTECTIONS FOR
LGBTQ WORKERS AND LEGALIZE GAY
CONVERSION THERAPY.
AND HE ALSO ONCE SAID THIS.
>> I KNOW SOME DISTRICTS
WHERE THERE'S A BIG INFESTATION
OF HOMOSEXUALS THAT ARE PUSHING
THEIR AGENDA UNDER THE SCREEN
AND THEY TRY AND GET MORE PEOPLE
HIRED THAT ARE LIKE THEM,
AND SET UP GAY ADOPTIONS,
AND ALL THIS STUFF, SO IT'S A
CONTINUAL FIGHT FOR THE VALUES
THAT WE HOLD DEAR.
>> John: OKAY, SO THERE'S A LOT
TO UNPACK THERE,
FROM THE DECOR WHICH SCREAMS
"CHRISTMAS IN HOSPICE"
TO THE DISGUSTING USE
OF THE WORD "INFESTATION" TO THE
FACT HE'S TALKING ABOUT STOPPING
GAY ADOPTION IN FRONT OF A
RONALD REAGAN QUOTE THAT SAYS
"MAN IS NOT FREE UNLESS
GOVERNMENT IS LIMITED."
AN IRONY COMPLETELY LOST ON
DENNIS.
CHAPEK THEN TOOK A THIRD SWING
AT AN APOLOGY ON FRIDAY, SAYING
DISNEY WAS PAUSING ALL ITS
POLITICAL GIVING IN FLORIDA,
PENDING A REVIEW, AND PROMISING,
"I AM AN ALLY YOU CAN COUNT ON,"
FOR WHICH THE JURY IS VERY
MUCH OUT.
BUT WHEN THIS BILL PASSES --
AS SEEMS INEVITABLE --
THE HARM WILL HAVE BEEN DONE.
THAT KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
WHO'S WEARING A FUCKING MICKEY
MOUSE T-SHIRT IN THAT PHOTO WITH
HIS PARTNER WILL HAVE BEEN
BETRAYED BY A COMPANY WHOSE WORK
HE LOVES.
AND FOR ALL CHAPEK'S
SELF-CONGRATULATION ABOUT HOW
DISNEY MOVIES LIKE BLACK PANTHER
CAN INSTIGATE CHANGE, THAT
CHANGE CLEARLY HAS ITS LIMITS,
GIVEN THAT JUST THIS WEEK, NEWS
BROKE THAT THE MOVIE'S DIRECTOR,
RYAN COOGLER, HAD BEEN
HANDCUFFED BY POLICE WHILE
TRYING TO WITHDRAW MONEY FROM
HIS OWN BANK ACCOUNT.
MARGINALIZED CREATORS HAVE MADE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR DISNEY.
NOW, SHOULD IT EMBARRASS THEM
THAT IT TOOK THEM UNTIL THIS
WEEK TO REALIZE THEY SHOULDN'T
TAKE THAT MONEY AND ACTIVELY
UNDERMINE THOSE CREATORS'
INTERESTS?
WHO'S TO SAY?
I'LL TELL YOU.
I AM.
I'M ZAZU, REMEMBER.
AND WHILE I HAVEN'T BEEN INVITED
BACK FOR THE PREQUEL YET, AFTER
TONIGHT, I'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD
FEELING ABOUT IT.
AND NOW THIS.
>> AND NOW JIM CRAMER PRESENTS
GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE.
>> LET'S START WITH WENDY'S.
I LIKE WENDY'S.
NOT JUST BECAUSE MY WIFE CAN PUT
AWAY A DOUBLE BACONATOR QUICKER
THAN ANYONE.
THEY HAVE HIGHLIGHTED MY WIFE
EATING A JUICY BACONATOR ALL
OVER HER CAR.
MY WIFE IS CRAZY ABOUT IT.
SHE DOESN'T CARE.
MY WIFE HAD A BACONATOR.
HOLY COW.
THAT'S TOUGH TO WORK OFF.
MY WIFE HAD A BACONATOR DURING
VACATION WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A
BULK UP SITUATION.
MY WIFE CHAMPIONED THAT
BACONATOR PRETTY GOT TO GO TO
PLANET FITNESS RIGHT AFTER.
MY WIFE IS A WENDY'S PERSON.
SHE LIKES THE BACONATOR.
SHE LOVES THE BACONATOR.
>> I KNOW YOUR WIFE LIKES THAT
BACONATOR ON A REGULAR BASIS.
>> SHE LOVES THE BACONATOR.
I DID IT TO STOP MY WIFE
YESTERDAY FROM GETTING A
BACONATOR.
I SAID ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
INCLUDING IN THE MID SINGLE
DIGITS AND THAT WAS BECAUSE MY
WIFE LIKED THE BACONATOR.
SHE LIKES THE DOUBLE CHEESE
BACONATOR.
ONCE AGAIN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
LISA.
>> John: MOVING ON.
OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT CONCERNS
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT.
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE
MISSED MOST DURING THE PANDEMIC,
AND EVERYONE WAS VERY EXCITED TO
SEE IT START TO COME BACK.
>> IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR
WITHOUT THEM, BUT NOW HAMPTON
COLOSSEUM IS BRINGING BACK
CONCERTS.
>> I'M PUMPED.
I'M READY TO GO.
I'M VACCINATED.
I'M READY TO GO.
I'VE BEEN LOCKED UP FOR A
YEAR AND TEN MONTHS AND NOW I'M
GONNA LET LOOSE AND DESTROY THIS
PLACE.
>> John: YOU KNOW WHAT?
LET HIM HAVE IT.
EVERYONE MISSED THEIR COMFORTS
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
FOR INSTANCE, I CAN GUARANTEE
THE SENTENCE "I'VE BEEN LOCKED
UP FOR A YEAR AND TEN MONTHS AND
NOW I'M HERE TO DESTROY THIS
PLACE" WAS ALSO SAID SEVERAL
TIMES AT THE RE-OPENING OF
AN ANN TAYLOR LOFT.
EVERYONE'S BEEN A BIT EDGY.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT UNDENIABLY
OFFERS UNIQUE EXPERIENCES FROM
TAYLOR SWIFT UNVEILING HER
SQUAD, TO A HOLOGRAM TUPAC
PERFORMING AT COACHELLA, TO THIS
UNSURPASSED MOMENT FROM A JUSTIN
BIEBER CONCERT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
GOOD.
I'M GLAD THAT HAPPENED.
AND WHILE IT'S AMAZING TO WATCH
THAT TOGETHER NOW, JUST IMAGINE
BEING THERE TO SEE IT LIVE IN
PERSON.
BUT IF YOU'VE BOUGHT OR EVEN
TRIED TO BUY TICKETS RECENTLY,
YOU KNOW THOSE EXPERIENCES COME
AT A COST.
>> I JUST SPENT THE
LAST HOUR AND 15 MINUTES
TRYING TO GET PINK TICKETS.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE BEHIND
THE STAGE, YOU'RE LOOKING
AT $500 PER TICKET.
WHO CAN AFFORD THAT?
>> FOR THE AMOUNT THAT I'M
PAYING TO SEE ANY RANDOM BAND
THAT'S GOING ON TOUR,
THEY BETTER BE FUCKING
SERENADING ME.
>> WHY ARE BAD BUNNY
TICKETS SO DAMN EXPENSIVE?
Y'ALL MAKING ME WANT TO SELL MY
HUSBAND'S FEET ON ONLYFANS!
>> John: WOW.
THAT IS A STRIKING SENTIMENT.
ACTUALLY HOLD ON.
HOLD ON.
FOR SALE?
HUSBAND FEET.
ONLYFANS.
WE DID IT!
WE CREATED A SADDER STORY
IN "FIVE" WORDS.
SUCK IT, HEMINGWAY!
SUCK IT!
IF YOU THINK TICKETS HAVE BEEN
GETTING RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE,
THEY HAVE.
THE AVERAGE PRICE
FOR A POPULAR CONCERT HAS MORE
THAN TRIPLED SINCE THE MID-'90s,
VASTLY OUTPACING INFLATION.
AND THAT'S BEFORE THEY HIT THE
RESALE MARKET.
AND WITH HUGE ARTISTS STARTING
TO PUT TICKETS ON SALE FOR
SUMMER SHOWS, THAT IRRITATION IS
ONLY LIKELY TO INCREASE.
SO TONIGHT, WE THOUGHT WE'D TRY
AND EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHY BAD
BUNNY TICKETS ARE SO EXPENSIVE,
WHO'S MAKING MONEY OFF THEM, AND
WHAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO
ABOUT IT THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE
SELLING YOUR HUSBAND'S FEET.
AND LET'S START WITH THE COMPANY
THAT YOU'RE IMMEDIATELY THINKING
OF: TICKETMASTER.
THEY'RE THE BIGGEST PLAYER IN
THE TICKET MARKET, BY FAR, AND
CLAIM THEY STRIVE TO PUT FANS
FIRST, AND THAT "THE PEOPLE WE
CARE MOST ABOUT ARE THE FANS."
AND YET, AS ANYONE WHO'S EVER
BOUGHT A TICKET FROM THEM KNOWS,
THAT'S GENERALLY NOT THE FEELING
YOU GET WHEN DEALING WITH THEM,
AS THIS YOUTUBER EXPLAINS.
>> IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT I
HAD AS A WISH, FOR ANY BIG
ARTIST OR BAND THAT COMES
THROUGH, WHETHER IT'S K-POP,
WHETHER IT'S A WESTERN ARTIST,
I DON'T GIVE A SHIT IF YOU'RE
A MAGICIAN -- ANY BIG TICKET
PERSON THAT EVER COMES THROUGH,
AND DOES A CONCERT --
NEVER USE TICKETMASTER.
USE LITERALLY ANYONE ELSE.
THEY ARE TERRIBLE.
>> John: OKAY, FIRST.
EXCELLENT SHADE THROWN AT
MAGICIANS.
NOTED AND APPRECIATED.
TICKETMASTER IS ONE OF THE MOST
HATED.
WE'VE GOT A FEW WEEKS
TILL THE MERGER GOES THROUGH.
IT'S GONNA BE A BUMPY RIDE
TILL THEN.
AND ALSO AFTER.
AND LOOK, IT'S NO SECRET
TICKETMASTER IS HORRIBLE.
BUT EXACTLY HOW IT'S HORRIBLE IS
GENUINELY INTERESTING.
AND LET'S START WITH ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT INFURIATES PEOPLE
MOST ABOUT THEM: THE FEES.
THEY CAN COME AS A NASTY
SURPRISE AT THE VERY END OF A
TRANSACTION AND CAN RANGE FROM
THE ANNOYING TO THE
COMPLETELY BATSHIT.
WE FOUND A TICKET TO A 2019
KIDZ BOP CONCERT WITH FEES THAT
AMOUNTED TO 75% OF FACE VALUE.
FOR ONE TICKET TO A TYLER THE
CREATOR SHOW NEXT WEEK, THE FEES
ADD AN EXTRA 78%.
TICKETS AT A MONSTER TRUCK
RALLY $16.41.
MORE THAN THE COST OF THE TICKET
ITSELF!
ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY, IN THE CASE
OF THAT KIDZ BOP TOUR, IT
MIGHT'VE BEEN WORTH IT, BECAUSE
THEY COULD'VE PLAYED THIS.
>> ♪ I JUST TOOK A DNA TEST
TURNS OUT I'M 100% THAT KID
EVEN WHEN I'M CRYING CRAZY ♪
YEAH, I GOT SOME PROBLEMS,
THAT'S THE HUMAN IN ME ♪
♪ BLING BLING, THEN I SOLVE 'EM,
THAT'S THE GODDESS IN ME ♪
♪ YOU COULDA HAD A GOOD FRIEND,
NONCOMMITTAL
HELP YOU WITH YOUR ♪
CAREER JUST A LITTLE ♪
>> John: STOP IT!
STOP IT RIGHT NOW!
AND FOREVER.
I HAVE SO MANY ISSUES WITH WHAT
YOU JUST SAW, THE LEAST OF WHICH
IS WHAT THEY DID TO THE LYRICS.
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE SAYING "TOOK A
DNA TEST TURNS OUT I'M 100% THAT
KID," YOU'RE EITHER A,
SETTLING A PATERNITY DISPUTE
ON "MAURY,"
OR B, RETURNING TO YOUR HOMETOWN
AFTER HAVING BEEN KIDNAPPED
THIRTY YEARS AGO.
"I SWEAR!
I JUST TOOK A DNA TEST, TURNS
OUT I'M 100% THAT KID!"
IT'S EASY AND FUN TO SHIT ON
TICKETMASTER AND THEIR FEES, AS
THEY POINT OUT THEY ARE NOT
SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM.
SAYING THEY SHARE IN A PORTION
OF THE FEES WE COLLECT WHICH IS
TRUE.
TICKETMASTER ENTERS INTO
CONTRACTS THAT SET AND SHARE
FEES WITH THE VENUES WHERE
CONCERTS ARE HELD, THE PROMOTERS
WHO BOOK, MARKET, AND ORGANIZE
THE SHOWS, AND SOMETIMES EVEN
THE ARTISTS THEMSELVES.
YOU COULD SAY TICKETMASTER'S
BUSINESS MODEL IS TO STAND IN AS
THE BAD GUY AND LET ALL THOSE
OTHER PLAYERS HIDE BEHIND THEM.
OR YOU COULD NOT SAY IT, AND
JUST LET TICKETMASTER'S FORMER
CEO BASICALLY ADMIT IT DIRECTLY
TO CONGRESS.
>> WHEN PEOPLE HEAR WHAT
TICKETMASTER'S SERVICE CHARGE
IS, YOU KNOW, TICKETMASTER
WAS SET UP AS A SYSTEM
WHERE THEY TOOK THE HEAT FOR
EVERYBODY.
IN THAT SERVICE CHARGE
ARE THE CREDIT CARD FEES,
THE REBATES TO THE BUILDINGS,
REBATES SOMETIMES TO ARTISTS,
SOMETIMES REBATES TO PROMOTERS.
SO TICKETMASTER HAS BEEN THE --
WE ARE LIKE THE IRS.
WE DELIVER BAD NEWS.
>> John: YEAH, IT'S TRUE.
TICKETMASTER'S
VERY LIKE THE IRS IN THAT ITS
AN OPAQUE BUREAUCRACY, TAKES
MORE OUT OF YOUR PAYCHECK THAN
YOU THINK IT SHOULD, AND IS
REPRESENTED BY MEN SO
CATASTROPHICALLY UNCHARISMATIC
THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE PUTTING
THEMSELVES TO SLEEP.
ALTHOUGH IT'S WORTH KNOWING
THAT WHILE TICKETMASTER DOES
SHARE FEES WITH OTHER PARTIES,
SOME OF THOSE OTHER PARTIES MAY
ALSO BE TICKETMASTER.
BECAUSE JUST ONE YEAR AFTER THAT
HEARING, THEY COMPLETED A
GIGANTIC MERGER WITH LIVENATION,
WHICH OWNS OR OPERATES MANY OF
THE COUNTRY'S TOP MUSIC VENUES,
AND CALL THEMSELVES, THE LARGEST
PRODUCER OF LIVE MUSIC CONCERTS
IN THE WORLD, AND SINCE THEN,
THEY'VE HAD SOMETHING OF A
CHOKEHOLD ON LIVE ENTERTAINMENT.
IN FACT, THE DOJ RECENTLY
ALLEGED THE COMPANY HAD
REPEATEDLY STRONG-ARMED VENUES
INTO USING TICKETMASTER AND
RETALIATED AGAINST OR THREATENED
VENUES THAT DID NOT USE ITS
SERVICES.
AND WHILE LIVENATION DENIES
THAT, THERE'S NO DENYING JUST
HOW MUCH POWER IT HAS.
EVEN BEFORE THE MERGER, PEARL
JAM, AT THE HEIGHT OF THEIR
FAME, TRIED TO DO A TOUR WITHOUT
TICKETMASTER OR THEIR
AFFILIATED VENUES, BUT THEIR
MANAGER ADMITTED AT THE TIME
THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO PLAY
AT WEIRD PLACES LIKE A SKI
RESORT IN LAKE TAHOE AND A
FAIRGROUND IN SAN DIEGO.
AND IF PEARL JAM IN THE NINETIES
DOESN'T HAVE THE POWER TO WALK
AWAY FROM TICKETMASTER, NO ONE
DOES.
SO WHEN YOU WONDER,
UNDERSTANDABLY, "WHY CAN'T MY
FAVORITE ARTIST OR, INDEED,
MAGICIAN JUST USE ANOTHER
TICKETING COMPANY?"
THE TRUTH IS, IF THEY WANT TO
PERFORM AT A VENUE THAT HAS AN
EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT WITH
TICKETMASTER, THEY CAN'T
ACTUALLY DO THAT.
BUT FEES AREN'T THE ONLY
COMPLAINT PEOPLE HAVE WITH THE
TICKETBUYING PROCESS.
ANOTHER IS TICKETS DISAPPEARING
BEFORE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO BUY
THEM.
CONCERTS FOR MAJOR ARTISTS CAN
SELL OUT SO FAST, SOMETIMES,
THEY EVEN MAKE THE NEWS.
>> YOU KNOW YOU'RE HOT WHEN YOU
CAN SELL OUT MADISON SQUARE
GARDEN --
20,000 SEATS, 30 SECONDS.
THAT'S WHAT JUSTIN BIEBER DID!
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO
SHOWS AT THE GARDEN, WHICH SEATS
AROUND 20,000 PEOPLE, SELLING
OUT IN LESS TIME THAN IT TAKES
ME TO APPLY MY LIP GLOSS.
THAT'S CRAZY.
>> John: YEAH, THAT IS CRAZY.
NOT JUST BIEBER SELLING OUT
20,000 SEATS IN 30 SECONDS, BUT
ALSO THAT SHE PUTS LIP GLOSS ON
FOR OVER 30 SECONDS.
THAT'S JUST WAY TOO MUCH TIME.
I'LL SHOW YOU HOW YOU DO IT.
PUT A TIMER ON THE SCREEN
RIGHT NOW.
CHECK THIS SHIT OUT.
STOP THE CLOCK.
LOOK AT THAT!
NOT EVEN CLOSE TO 30
SECONDS, I DIDN'T BREAK A SWEAT,
AND I LOOK FUCKING GREAT.
BUT HERE'S THE THING.
SELLING 20,000 SEATS IN 30
SECONDS WOULD BE CRAZY IF THAT'S
WHAT BIEBER DID.
BUT HE DIDN'T.
BECAUSE A REPORT FROM THE NEW
YORK A.G. LATER REVEALED, FEWER
THAN 2,000 TICKETS WERE ACTUALLY
PUT ON SALE THAT DAY.
AND THAT'S BY NO MEANS
A ONE-OFF.
FOR MANY TOP SHOWS, LESS THAN
25% OF TICKETS ARE INITIALLY
RELEASED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
AND IN AN AUDIT OF THE BLAISDELL
CENTER IN HONOLULU, THEY FOUND
THAT WHEN JANET JACKSON PLAYED
THERE IN 2015, ONLY 8 PERCENT OF
ALL TICKETS WENT TO THE GENERAL
PUBLIC, AND WHEN MARIAH CAREY
PLAYED THERE THE NEXT YEAR,
IT WAS JUST 7 PERCENT.
THAT WAS PRESUMABLY FOR HER
FAMED MARIAH "GOOD FUCKING LUCK
GETTING IN TO SEE THIS" TOUR.
AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHERE ON
EARTH THE REST OF THE TICKETS
GO, WELL, THEY'RE DELIBERATELY
HELD BACK TO BE SOLD IN OTHER
WAYS.
AND OFTEN A BIG CHUNK GOES TO
CREDIT-CARD COMPANIES, AS YOU
MIGHT KNOW FROM ADS LIKE THIS.
>> WHEN LAUREN BROKE UP WITH ME
SHE SAID...
>> CHUCK, YOU'RE A LITTLE
BORING.
>> ♪ THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE ♪
>> USE ANY CITI CARD TO GET
THE BENEFITS OF PRIVATE PASS.
MORE CONCERTS, MORE EVENTS,
MORE EXPERIENCES.
>> John: OH, YEAH, LAUREN?
WOULD A BORING GUY USE OUR
BREAK-UP AS AN EXCUSE TO SIGN UP
FOR A CREDIT CARD SO THAT I
COULD QUIETLY STAND BACKSTAGE
DURING AN ALICIA KEYS CONCERT,
AN ON-PAPER SENSIBLE DECISION?
I SUBMIT THAT A BORING GUY WOULD
NOT DO THAT, LAUREN, AND I AWAIT
YOUR CONFIRMATION.
YOU FUCKED UP, LAUREN.
AND IT'S NOT JUST TICKETS BEING
SILOED AWAY FOR CREDIT-CARD
OFFERS.
THEY CAN ALSO WIND UP BEING PUT
ON SALE BY THE PROMOTER OR A
RADIO STATION OR THROUGH AN
ARTIST'S FAN CLUB.
WHICH SOUNDS FINE!
BUT A LOT OF AVERAGE FANS CAN'T
AFFORD SPECIAL CREDIT CARDS OR
DON'T HAVE TIME TO JUMP THROUGH
HOOPS IN A FAN CLUB.
BUT ONE GROUP VERY MUCH HAS THE
TIME AND THE RESOURCES AND
THAT'S PROFESSIONAL TICKET
BROKERS.
THESE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS OR
COMPANIES THAT BUY UP TONS OF
TICKETS BEFORE YOU CAN GET THEM,
SOMETIMES WITH THE HELP OF
BOTS THAT SNAP THEM UP
INCREDIBLY QUICKLY, BECAUSE --
AS YOU PROBABLY ASSUMED --
ALL THOSE STUPID
"ARE YOU A ROBOT?"
TESTS HAVE VERY MUCH NOT KEPT
THEM ALL OUT.
BECAUSE EVERY TIME TICKET SITES
COME UP WITH A NEW TECHNOLOGY,
BOTS FIND A WAY AROUND IT.
AND ONCE BROKERS HAVE THOSE
TICKETS, THEY'LL FLIP THEM ON
THE SECONDARY MARKET AT A HUGE
MARKUP.
AND AT THIS POINT, WE SHOULD
PROBABLY TALK ABOUT THE
SECONDARY MARKET.
SITES LIKE SEATGEEK,
STUBHUB AND --
SURPRISE, SURPRISE --
TICKETMASTER AGAIN.
THESE SITES BADLY WANT YOU TO
THINK OF THEM AS FAN-TO-FAN
MARKETPLACES.
TICKETMASTER EVEN DESCRIBES ITS
RESALE MARKETPLACE LIKE THIS.
>> OUR OBJECTIVE IS IF
THAT SECONDARY MARKET EXISTS,
WE WANT TO CREATE A SAFE
ENVIRONMENT AND PLATFORM FOR YOU
TO BE ABLE TO
EXCHANGE THOSE TICKETS.
>> YOU'VE BOUGHT TICKETS
TO GO SEE SOMEONE YOU LOVE.
AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR,
YOUR BABYSITTER CAN'T MAKE IT.
YOU SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT
TO RECOUP YOUR COSTS
ON THAT TICKET.
>> John: RIGHT.
THE LAST THING YOU WANT
IS RESENTMENT TOWARD YOUR
BABY TO START FESTERING BECAUSE
OF A MISSED CONCERT.
EVERY TIME YOU LOOK AT THEIR
CHUBBY CHEEKS, YOU'LL JUST
THINK, "IF YOU WEREN'T BORN,
I'D HAVE SEEN THE RED HOT CHILI
PEPPERS LIVE AND I'D BE
HAPPIER."
YOU'RE THE WORST.
BUT THE TRUTH IS, RESALE SITES
ARE NOT JUST "FAN TO FAN," AT
ALL.
IN FACT, A GOVERNMENT REPORT
FOUND THAT "PROFESSIONAL BROKERS
REPRESENT EITHER THE MAJORITY OR
THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF
TICKET SALES" ON THESE SITES.
AND THEY MAKE A LOT OF MONEY
DOING IT.
THE NEW YORK A.G.'S OFFICE FOUND
BROKERS MARK UP THE PRICE OF
TICKETS BY AN ESTIMATED 49% ON
AVERAGE, BUT SOMETIMES BY MORE
THAN 1,000% AND IN ONE
CASE, BY 7,000%.
THAT WAS FOR A ONE DIRECTION
CONCERT.
AND LET ME JUST SAY
I DON'T REGRET IT.
IT WAS WORTH IT.
MY FAVORITE ONE DIRECTION
IS NIALL.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THE OTHER
ONES ARE.
AND I GET MAD WHEN THEY SING
OVER THE TOP OF HIM.
AND TICKET-SELLING SITES GO OUT
OF THEIR WAY TO CATER TO THEIR
BROKER CLIENTS, BECAUSE THEY
BRING THEM IN A LOT OF MONEY.
FOR INSTANCE, WHILE THEY LIMIT
THE NUMBER OF TICKETS ANY ONE
ACCOUNT CAN BUY TO AN EVENT,
THERE'S AN OBVIOUS WAY FOR
BROKERS TO GET AROUND THAT, AND
THAT'S SIMPLY TO HAVE MORE THAN
ONE ACCOUNT.
THIS IS A PRACTICE TICKETMASTER
HAS LONG BEEN AWARE OF.
THERE'S A TICKET-BROKER
CONFERENCE IN VEGAS EACH YEAR.
JUST WATCH WHAT HAPPENED WHEN
REPORTERS WENT UNDERCOVER THERE,
AND TALKED TO SOMEONE AT
TICKETMASTER'S BOOTH.
>> TICKETMASTER WAS BUSY
SURROUNDED BY SCALPERS SOME OF
>> I WANT TO KNOW THE STRAIGHT
GOODS ON WHETHER TICKETMASTER IS
GOING TO BE POLICING US
USING OUR MULTIPLE
ACCOUNTS.
>> UH, NO.
I HAVE A GENTLEMAN WHO'S
GOT OVER 200 TICKETMASTER.COM
ACCOUNTS.
>> HOW MANY BROKERS ARE USING
MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS?
>> I'D SAY PRETTY DAMN NEAR
EVERY ONE OF THEM.
>> John: YEAH.
OF COURSE THEY ARE!
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT STOPPING
THEM.
I WILL SAY
I'M IN AWE OF ANYONE WHO CAN
REMEMBER USERNAMES AND PASSWORDS
FOR OVER 200 ACCOUNTS.
I USE ONE PASSWORD FOR ALL MY
ACCOUNTS, AND IT'S "NIALL HORAN
IS THE BEST ONE DIRECTION,
EXCLAMATION MARK."
DON'T TELL ANYONE.
NOW, I HAVE TO TELL YOU
TICKETMASTER INSISTS IT SPENDS
MILLIONS ON TECHNOLOGY TO WEED
OUT BAD BEHAVIOR, AND THAT THAT
EMPLOYEE'S COMMENTS WEREN'T
REFLECTIVE OF ITS POLICIES.
BUT EVEN TAKING THEM AT THEIR
WORD, WHICH I'M NOT INCLINED
TO DO, THEIR WHOLE SYSTEM IS
DESIGNED TO BE OPAQUE.
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO
BROKERS SELLING TICKETS, BECAUSE
THE OTHER RESALE SITES ACTIVELY
CHOOSE TO PROVIDE ANONYMITY TO
THEM.
SO WHEN YOU BUY A TICKET ON THE
SECONDARY MARKET, THERE'S NO WAY
TO KNOW THE IDENTITY OF WHO
YOU'RE BUYING FROM, WHETHER
IT'S A FAN WHOSE BABYSITTER
JUST CANCELED OR A BROKER WHO
MIGHT HAVE 500 OTHER TICKETS ON
SALE FOR THAT SAME EVENT.
WHICH, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
IS A BIT WEIRD.
ON MOST SITES WHERE PEOPLE
RESELL THINGS, YOU CAN SEE
WHO YOU'RE BUYING FROM.
TAKE EBAY.
IF YOU SAW THIS LISTING, FOR A
MICKEY MOUSE SHAPED POTATO
AVAILABLE FOR $50, YOU COULD
LOOK AT THE SELLER, SEE THEIR
USERNAME, KNOW THAT THEY HAVE
A 100% FAVORABLE RATING,
AND FEEL CONFIDENT IN YOUR
PURCHASE.
AND I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.
YOU'RE THINKING, "JOHN, YOU
BOUGHT THAT POTATO,
DIDN'T YOU?
AND IT'S UNDER YOUR DESK,
ISN'T IT?"
NO.
IT'S NOT UNDER MY DESK.
IT'S OVER HERE!
BEHOLD!
OF COURSE WE BOUGHT IT.
AS YOU CAN SEE,
IT DEFINITELY KIND OF LOOKS
A BIT LIKE MICKEY MOUSE!
THE POINT IS, BROKERS, WITH
THEIR IDENTITIES CONCEALED,
CAN SNAP UP LARGE NUMBERS OF
TICKETS AND RESELL THEM
AT A MASSIVE MARKUP.
MEANWHILE, THE SECONDARY-MARKET
SITES ARE THEMSELVES MAKING
MONEY BY CHARGING A PERCENTAGE
ON THOSE LUDICROUS TICKET
PRICES.
WE FOUND A TICKET FOR ADELE
SELLING ON SEATGEEK FOR $1,690,
PLUS $538 IN FEES.
AND LOOK, HERE'S WHERE WE NEED
TO DEAL WITH AN UNCOMFORTABLE
FACT.
WHICH IS THE QUESTION OF WHAT
THAT TICKET IS ACTUALLY WORTH.
BECAUSE AN ECONOMIST WILL TELL
YOU IT'S WORTH WHATEVER PEOPLE
WILL PAY.
SO IF SOMEONE'S WILLING TO SPEND
OVER $2,000, INCLUDING FEES, FOR
AN ADELE TICKET, THAT'S WHAT
IT'S WORTH, AS GROSS AS THAT
SOUNDS.
BUT IF ADELE DOESN'T WANT TO
CHARGE THAT, THERE'S GOING TO BE
A GAP BETWEEN THE FACE VALUE OF
THE TICKET AND WHAT SOMEONE CAN
GET FOR IT, AND A WHOLE INDUSTRY
IS SCRAMBLING TO EXPLOIT IT.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, LIVE EVENTS
ARE UNIQUELY VULNERABLE TO THIS,
BECAUSE THEY'RE INHERENTLY RARE.
BAD BUNNY, FOR INSTANCE, IS
PROBABLY ONLY COMING TO YOUR
TOWN ONCE A YEAR AT MOST,
AND A LOT MORE PEOPLE WANT TO
SEE HIM THAN THERE ARE SEATS.
AND WHILE BAD BUNNY COULD CHARGE
THE GOING RATE FOR EVERY TICKET,
HE PROBABLY DOESN'T WANT TO DO
THAT BECAUSE HE'D LOOK LIKE AN
ASSHOLE.
WHICH HE VERY MUCH ISN'T.
HE'S NOT A BAD BUNNY AT ALL.
DESPITE THE NAME.
IF HE'S ANYTHING,
HE'S A VERY GOOD BUNNY.
AND AS LONG AS ARTISTS -- WITH
ALL GOOD INTENTIONS -- PRICE
THEIR TICKETS BELOW THE MARKET,
EXPLOITATION IS GOING TO HAPPEN,
AND THAT WOMAN'S HUSBAND IS
GOING TO HAVE TO SHOW FEET.
ALTHOUGH IT'S WORTH NOTING
SOME ARTISTS HAVE TRIED TO
SNEAKILY GET THE SCALPER PRICE
FOR THEIR TICKETS WITHOUT ANYONE
REALLY NOTICING.
REMEMBER HOW JUSTIN BIEBER WAS
SUPPOSEDLY SELLING OUT VENUES
IN SECONDS, WHILE TONS OF
TICKETS WERE HELD BACK?
AT ANOTHER STOP ON THAT TOUR,
REPORTERS LOOKED INTO SOME OF
THE TICKETS ON RESALE SITES AND
FOUND SOMETHING SURPRISING.
>> SECTION 205, ROW G,
14 TICKETS LISTED FOR $246 EACH
AND GET THIS.
TICKETING DOCUMENTS SHOW THAT
ENTIRE G ROW WENT TO BIEBER'S
OWN TOUR.
>> I THINK THERE IS NO QUESTION
WHEN ONE LOOKS AT THE DOCUMENT
THAT BIEBER IS SCALPING
HIS OWN TICKETS.
>> John: YEAH.
IT'S TRUE.
A GROUP OF TICKETS HELD
FOR BIEBER'S TOUR ENDED UP
RELEASED NOT TO THE BOX OFFICE,
BUT STRAIGHT TO THE SECONDARY
MARKET.
AND ON ONE HAND, I GET THE
IMPULSE OF, "IF SOMEONE'S GOING
TO MAKE $246 OFF THAT TICKET,
SHOULDN'T IT BE THE PERSON DOING
THE PERFORMING?"
BUT IT STILL DOESN'T FEEL GREAT,
DOES IT?
AND IT'S ALSO NOT GOING TO STOP
ME FROM SHOWING YOU THAT CLIP OF
HIM FALLING DOWN A HOLE AGAIN.
EXCELLENT.
IT GETS BETTER EVERY TIME
YOU SEE IT.
BIEBER'S NOT UNIQUE IN DOING
THIS.
A FEW YEARS BACK, IT EMERGED
THAT LIVE NATION HAD HELPED
METALLICA PLACE TICKETS DIRECTLY
ONTO THE RESALE MARKET,
ADMITTING ABOUT A DOZEN OTHER
ARTISTS HAD ASKED THEM TO DO
THIS IN RECENT YEARS.
AND BEFORE YOU WORRY.
NO.
I'M NOT ONE OF THE ARTISTS
PUTTING TICKETS TO THIS SHOW
STRAIGHT ONTO THE RESALE MARKET.
WE DO IT THE RIGHT WAY,
DISTRIBUTING TICKETS AT RANDOM,
TO ANYONE WALKING PAST THE
STUDIO AT THE TIME.
HALF THESE IDIOTS THINK I'M THE
WARMUP ACT FOR DREW BARRYMORE.
SHE'LL BE OUT ANY MINUTE, FOLKS.
SHE'LL BE OUT ANY MINUTE.
SHE'S SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
SO, WHEN YOU TAKE ALL THIS
TOGETHER, THE REASON TICKETS ARE
SO HARD TO GET WHEN THEY'RE ON
SALE IS THAT THEY'RE OFTEN NOT
ON SALE.
AND THE REASON THEY COST SO MUCH
ON THE SECONDARY MARKET IS THAT
YOU'RE PAYING EXORBITANT FEES TO
THE PLATFORM AND MIGHT BE
BUYING FROM A BROKER OR IN RARE
CASES, EVEN FROM THE ARTIST
THEMSELVES.
AND THIS WHOLE ECOSYSTEM
ENRICHES A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
DON'T CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING TO THE
ACTUAL SHOW YOU ARE PAYING TO
SEE.
AND AT THE CENTER OF ALL THIS IS
TICKETMASTER, BECAUSE IT
TURBOCHARGED MANY OF THE SHITTY
PRACTICES THAT HAVE NOW BECOME
INDUSTRY STANDARD.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO?
WELL, CONGRESS COULD INJECT
TRANSPARENCY INTO THIS PROCESS,
BY PASSING LAWS THAT REQUIRE
SITES TO DISCLOSE THEIR FEES UP
FRONT, ALONG WITH THE IDENTITY
OF THE SELLER ON RESALE SITES.
BUT THE TRUTH IS MUCH OF THE
POWER IS ACTUALLY IN THE HANDS
OF ARTISTS HERE.
BECAUSE THE BIGGEST ONES COULD
DO THINGS TO TAMP DOWN THE
SECONDARY MARKET, LIKE MAKING
THEIR TICKETS NON-TRANSFERABLE,
MEANING RESALE IS RESTRICTED.
BANDS LIKE PEARL JAM HAVE
EXPERIMENTED WITH THIS, AND
BEFORE THEIR 2020 TOUR WAS
POSTPONED, THEY EVEN WORKED WITH
TICKETMASTER TO CREATE AN ONLINE
MARKETPLACE WHERE FANS COULD
SELL TICKETS THEY DIDN'T NEED,
BUT WITH NO ADDITIONAL FEES AND
NOT FOR A PROFIT.
THAT SEEMS LIKE THE MODEL
EVERYONE SHOULD BE USING.
BUT IF REGULATORS DON'T ACT, AND
ARTISTS DON'T HAVE THE CLOUT OR
THE INCLINATION TO REQUIRE
COMPANIES TO PUT THOSE
GUARDRAILS IN PLACE, I'M AFRAID
YOU AS A FAN ARE GOING TO REMAIN
VULNERABLE TO THE WORST PARTS OF
THIS SYSTEM.
ONE DRIVEN BY ONE OF THE MOST
WIDELY LOATHED COMPANIES ON
THE PLANET THAT BECAME EVEN
BIGGER, DUE TO A MERGER THAT
PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
ALLOWED.
AND I KNOW ALL THIS MAY FEEL
A LITTLE UNSATISFYING.
BUT IF IT'S ANY CONSOLATION, I
PERSONALLY PROMISE TO CONTINUE
TO OFFER THE ONLY ACCURATELY
PRICED ENTERTAINMENT ON THE
MARKET.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
ONE IN WHICH TICKETS FOR
THIS SHOW REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR
FREE AND YOU CAN COME WATCH A
DECAYING MAN SHOUT NUMBERS,
APPLY LIP GLOSS SHODDILY,
AND SHAMELESSLY EARN BACK YOUR
GOOD WILL BY SHOWING YOU A
POTATO THAT, YOU HAVE TO ADMIT,
DOES LOOK A BIT LIKE A FAMOUS
MOUSE.
THAT IS OUR SHOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.
WE'RE OFF NEXT WEEK.
WE'LL BE BACK AFTER THAT.
GOOD NIGHT!