BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: TICKETMASTER PROBLEMS

New Jersey classic rock legend BRUCE SPRINGTEEN has put tickets on sale for his anticipated spring 2012 U.S. tour this MORNING as problems have been reported with ticket agency TICKETMASTER.

In early 2009, TICKETMASTER's website re directed fans to TICKETS NOW, an in house scalping agency. In 2009 and 2010, TICKETMASTER consolidated with LIVE NATION as many complained about TICKETMASTER's monopoly and if TICKETMASTER/LIVE NATION was violating anti trust laws.

February 2010, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN fans sued TICKETMASTER via the U.S. Federal Trade Commision for deceptive sales practices from TICKETSNOW, a ticket reselling unit (scalping agency) associated with TICKETMASTER. TICKETMASTER was sued and mandated to
repay fans upward to over a million dollars of refunds from "deceptive bait-and-switch tactics" regarding 14 SPRINGSTEEN concerts in 2009. It was reported that TICKETSNOW sold "phantom tickets" without telling consumers that did not have tickets and not refunding the consumers.


According to regional media sources including the NJ STAR LEDGER, scalpers used sophisticated computer programs to jam up TICKEMASTER on line, and re sell tickets for more than the market price.


FROM BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN:
We know that many of you have been having trouble purchasing tickets through Ticketmaster's website this morning. Here is an official update from them: "We have been experiencing highly abnormal traffic patterns on our site this morning that have impacted the fan buying experience for some customers. We are investigating the source of the problem and are working to resolve it as quickly as possible, but tickets are selling so please stay patient. We will update fans as we know more."



Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bruce-springsteen-fans-deal-with-ticketmaster-glitches-20120127#ixzz1kiU4UKzW

FROM MYFOXNY.COM:
MYFOXNY.COM - Bruce Springsteen fans were frustrated Friday when they encountered frozen screen and error messages on Ticketmaster's website while trying to sore tickets to the Boss's shows.
Ticketmaster said the problem had already been resolved by noon so fans buying tickets for Springsteen's show at Madison Square Garden shouldn't have had a problem. But fans say that within minutes of Ticketmaster crashing Friday morning, tickets for the New Jersey concerts were already being sold on other sites for thousands of dollars.
U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell is now calling for stronger government oversight of online box offices like Ticketmaster.
"I think it's important to note that while many fans were unable to get tickets today, many brokers were able to get their hands on good seats for Springsteen and put them up on secondary ticket sellers' web sites where they were sold at higher prices," Pascrell said in a statement.
Ticketmaster said the website froze because it was being assaulted by hackers. The site attracted about two and a half times the traffic it has seen in a year.
"Early indications suggest that much of this traffic came from highly suspicious sources, implying that scalpers were using sophisticated computer programs to assault our systems and secure tickets with the sole intention of selling them in the resale market," the company said in a statement.
Bruce fans are so upset with Ticketmaster, they even started an angry Facebook page.
Meantime, the Boss acknowledged on his website that he was aware of the problem.
Ticketmaster said it was not the only ticketing platform to experience problems Friday.
"We want fans to know that we will continue to fight against these attacks on their behalf, and hope the incident draws greater attention to the need to take strong measures against those who violate the law and exploit artists and fans," the company said.


Read more: http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/ticketmaster-problems-frustrate-bruce-springsteen-fans-20120127#ixzz1kikaspzT


Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-