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It is also v important that people (aka broke ppl like us with the voting power and power of choice) don't just shrug our shoulders as well and go OH that's how the world works.
Yes, that is how it had worked for a long time. But a little awareness on our part and actions can really help too. This is beyond ts.
This is just stupid fucking capitalism. Know ur econ policies of ur states and or nation. Don't let rich ppl glam blind u from things.
End rant. Also taylor love u. TS stans, pls don't come after me peace and love mwah
so you tried to get eras tour tickets. you sat in that cursed little waiting room, heart racing, snacks untouched, fully prepared to go to war. and then... ticketmaster self-destructed. bots took your spot. resale prices shot up to “sell your kidney on the dark web” levels.
but plot twist: this wasn’t just a tech glitch. it’s economics. specifically: monopoly power. let’s unpack it, swifty-style.
a monopoly is when one company basically owns the whole playground. no competition means they get to:
set the prices stupid high
give you terrible service
shrug when things fall apart
ticketmaster isn’t the only ticketing company technically, but after it merged with live nation in 2010, it gained a whole lot of control over:
the tickets
the venues
even the artists
that’s called vertical integration.
how this turned into the eras tour apocalypse:
demand: 3.5 million+ people signed up
supply: not even close to enough seats
ticketmaster: crashed. burned. bots thrived.
prices: “dynamic pricing” kicked in, aka surge pricing for concerts. seats hit $4k+.
and because they’re so dominant in the market, you didn’t have real alternatives. no other sellers. no options.
technically, it’s legal. but antitrust laws are supposed to stop companies from getting this kind of power. problem is, enforcement is kinda mid.
after the eras disaster, congress actually held a hearing called:
“that’s the ticket: promoting competition and protecting consumers in live entertainment.”
yes. actual senators quoted taylor lyrics in official government docs. this is our timeline.
what this teaches you (besides never trusting ticketmaster):
monopolies = higher prices, worse experiences, no choices
big mergers can quietly make competition disappear
economic policy absolutely affects your real life (even your chance to scream “all too well” live)