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I’m happy for them, but sad for the consumer. Ticket sales are clearly in desperate need of more competition, and TicketsNow was clearly putting the pressure on: hence the buy-out. Bittersweet, to be sure.

Great success story – there must be so many people wanting to get a project off the ground with few resources, and this proves it’s possible.

I’m sure he’s a great guy, but aren’t they effectively scalpers with corporate approval?

The whole “after-market” tickets business is at least partially responsible for skyrocketing ticket prices to the consumer.

From their site:

“Offering the world’s largest selection of premium seating to sold-out events, TicketsNow is the Internet’s best source for Sonic Youth tickets. Since 1999, we have provided consumers a safe and easy way to purchase the best sports, concert, and theater tickets at the best prices.”

The best price available to a desperate person, I guess.

Eamon: I came here to say the exact same thing.

While I’m happy for anyone who can build a successful business and reap the rewards, this is really the last thing the ticket-buying public needs. When Ticketmaster buys out their competition, the customer loses, just as we have been for as long as TM has been abusing their monopoly position.

When Ticketmaster buys out their competition, the customer loses, just as we have been for as long as TM has been abusing their monopoly position.

Go start a ticket company. If you think the consumer is primed to lose from this deal then the consumer should flock to your offering.

Essentially Ticketmaster just bought out a corporate scalper that inflates ticket prices beyond even Ticketmaster’s monopoly reach.

Music fans and independent artists rejoice!!!

It’s funny how the collaborative economy including:

-Web 2.0 -User generated content -Open source -Crowd sourcing -Blogging -Peer2peer file sharing -etc.

are all forcing big players to rethink how they do business. I keep thinking of Radiohead and how they bypassed big record labels. When I was in high school and Napster was still popular, I always thought that instead of complaining, record companies should buy a piece of Napster and promote its use rather than trying to shut p2p networks down.

When I first heard about Radiohead’s move on NPR a few months ago I knew it was going to be a success. Web 2.0, user generated content, open source, peer-to-peer file sharing etc. all point to the growing communal inclinations of our society. The tide is changing and yesterday’s power-brokers are today’s paupers. I mean, we live in an age where a post on Digg can reach more people than all major networks and newspapers combined (and arguably from a more sophisticated audience as well)

Genuinely successful business people have always known that if you offer true value, publicity, money, fame, and happiness will naturally follow. ‘Pay it forward’ works. The writing is on the wall. People who fail to see it will go down with the Dodo bird.

Although TicketMaster’s move sucks for the consumer, it’s good business sense. I was listening to another story about some brothers in India who created a Facebook game called Scrabulous (similar to Scrabble) and how Hasbro is all up in arms about it. These dinosaur companies need to get their heads out of their butts and recognize that this is good for them… or simply offer to buy the company out. Hooting and hollering and making a big fit does not help them.

Again, I’m not happy that TicketMaster is increasing their prices, but it shows how they’re being forced to legitimize these ‘scalpers’. They’re changing with the times; it’s just good business sense.

A word of advice to stodgy business execs… don’t fight change, embrace it!

Raza Imam http://BoycottSoftwareSweatshops.com

“Go start a ticket company. If you think the consumer is primed to lose from this deal then the consumer should flock to your offering.”

Wake up.

Ticketmaster have so much power that even the biggest acts in the world can’t hold a concert without them. They have an absolute strangehold on the fans, artists and venues (big and small). They threaten to take away the livelihood of any venue that dares to take on an act that doesn’t use Ticketmaster. And they’re in bed with Clear Channel which owns the airwaves and determines who gets publicity.

I’m really surprised that 37Signals is celebrating this deal.

Go start a ticket company. If you think the consumer is primed to lose from this deal then the consumer should flock to your offering.

I think that statement is a bit off. I’m sure Tickets Now will keep its public identity and Ticketmaster will own it behind the scenes. The average consumer won’t know the difference and a new company will have a hard time competing.

The illusion of choice …

After market ticket sales suck in general anyway. I prefer my local small venues where I can buy tickets at cover price.

Good for him, but the tickets game is a clusterflock for the consumer. I can’t say that this is worth celebrating.

Peter Forde: The best price available to a desperate person, I guess..

I’m not a big fan of TicketMaster and never heard of TicketsNow but nobody needs a concert or sporting ticket. Your “desperation” plays a part in the ticket value.

@JF

Unfortunately, you are commenting on the tickets business when you publicly congratulate someone for building a business around artificially inflating ticket prices and then selling that it to a monopoly whose strangelhold of the entertainment business has had negative effects on fans and artists for decades.

Fortunately, LiveNation is not renewing their Ticketmaster contract and are launching a competing site Jan 1, 2009. They do have some muscle, seeing as how they promote the concerts Ticketmaster processes the transactions for. In fact, Ticketmaster probably bought TicketsNow so they can still get a cut of the revenue for the events they will no longer control.

“for building a business around artificially inflating ticket prices”

Complete and utter bllsht.

As I recall, people have a choice to buy or not. Price is the intersection of supply and DEMAND . I recall a concert that I really wanted to go to but people were paying $300 or more. So I didn’t go. What is the alternative? Repeal supply and demand?

Way to go Mike! This is a great deal for employees and consumers. If you truley knew how each of these companies REALLY worked you would have nothing but good things to say about both.

TMaster does not set the prices for Face Value tickets (the promoters and venues do) they are just the ticketing company (they print and sell the tickets) that is why they charge a service fee.

TicketsNow is a re-seller of tickets sold by Season Ticket holders, other fans and other ticket sellers who wish to sell their tickets at a premium, that is also why they charge a service fee. T

Whoops! Didn’t mean to kick off a pile-on, there. Anyway, hooray TicketsNow, full-stop.

@Anonymous Coward - I hope what you say is true…I really hate Ticketmaster, they are really appearing to be the 400lb Gorilla that won’t fall. I remember when Eddie Vedder fought with them years ago, I wish more artists would’ve joined into the fight.

Sure more competition is better for the consumer, but that’s not something that’s solely up to TicketsNow. TicketsNow doesn’t have an obligation to be eternally competitive with anyone or for anyone. They built a successful business against the odds. They wanted out. And now they’re out with a bounty. Good for them if that’s what they wanted.

And when MS came knocking at their door.. i said nothing.. when Google came knocking at their door .. i said nothing.. then.. they came for 37Signals…

Thank you TicketsNow!

All our local talent is flocking to the west coast to work at Google, eBay and startups. From what I understand this company was built not only in the Chicago area but actually way out in the burbs in Crystal Lake.

Great to see a local e-commerce success story.

We need more!

I would like to see Mike Domek apprciate his loyal, long time employees (Like Bill Gates did with Microsoft) he is making a whole lot of money, why not show your appriciation with employees that have been there for him, putting in long hours and great demands and supporting him and his dream.