Concert tickets being resold to Ticketmaster, and other secondary market platforms such as StubHub happens more frequently as many witnessed this with acts including Metallica and My Chemical Romance. While fans sit in agony waiting in those terrible “waiting rooms” on Ticketmaster’s website, they eventually notice their slim chance to obtaining their dream ticket as they witness the ticket resale in front of their very own eyes. Concertgoers are unable to purchase a ticket altogether due to the show selling out within minutes.
Despite the attempt to stop ticket scalpers and reseller markets, the same has happened to Rage Against the Machine’s upcoming reunion tour. Unfortunately, the band has claimed many tickets being resold are fraudulent as they were already on reseller sites before the tickets were officially on sale. Therefore, it’s uncertain as to exactly how many fans will arrive with a valid or invalid ticket on the day of the show. However, nothing stopped these scalpers from stealing tickets from genuine RATM fans. On Ticketmaster’s website, they are reselling tickets for $600-$700. Meanwhile, StubHub has a more “reasonable” deal with reselling tickets between $150-$250. Oddly enough, the group assured all ticket prices were the same at $125, and they allegedly made an effort to avoid the scalping from happening, stating:
“Since the announcement of our tour, scalpers and broker sites have been listing fake tickets for Rage Against The Machine. We want to do everything we can to protect our fans from predatory scalping and, at the same time, raise a substantial amount of money for charities and activist organisations we support in each city. At many concerts, up to 50% of the seating is scooped up by scalpers and then resold to fans at much higher fees. We are doing everything we can to protect 90% of the Rage Against The Machine tickets from scalpers, and we are holding in reserve 10% of the seating – random seats throughout each venue – to sell at a higher ticket price, but low enough too undercut the scalpers.
“We will donate 100% of the money over the fees and base ticket price to charities and activist organisations in each city. We are confident this will help many more fans get tickets at face value and put a big dent in the aftermarket gouging. We hate scalping as much as you do and will continue to try to find ways to combat it. Additionally, we are donating all profits from our first three shows to immigrants’ rights organisations and will be supporting multiple charities and activist organisations throughout the tour.”
As we saw angry Twitter reactions earlier this week, fans have once again expressed their rage on the social media platform on the issue and you can read a few highlights below:
The MOST expensive ticket for ANY Rage Against The Machine/Run the Jewels headline show is $125 US (plus service fees) with the exception of CHARITY tickets where 100% of the additional proceeds go to charity. ANY other ticket at ANY other price is from SCALPERS.
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) February 14, 2020
Scalpers are the worst. Got in the queue right at 11 for Run the Jewels and Rage Against the Machine tickets for their Vancouver show and it was sold out instantly. Resale tickets already up for 2-3 times face value. Scumbags
— Theron Beggs (@VanCityMidas) February 13, 2020
Rage Against the Machine – headliner indoor show in Vienna: that escalated quickly – sold out in less than 5 minutes. Got 2 Front Of Stage tickets… yesss
— Michael Plöd (@bitboss) February 14, 2020
Rage Against the Machine Minneapolis already sold out. Yowzers.
— Ben Zierke (@BenZierke) February 13, 2020
Rage Against The Machine sold out in 7 minutes in Cleveland. I was in the queue to buy tix and got booted. Damn. #ComeWitItNow
— Dustin Davis☠️ (@AkrunDustin) February 13, 2020
Tried getting 2 standing tickets for Rage Against the Machine in Prague – Already on resale sites for massively inflated prices, but sold out on official channels. Absolutely hate it, getting gig tickets needs a compete overhaul
— Chris Brown (@ChrisBiproxy) February 14, 2020
So fucking disappointed I’m not seeing Rage against the machine and Run The Jewels. GA sold out in seconds and nosebleeds are $150….
— Antwon (@AntwonTDC) February 14, 2020
WOW! By selling their tickets on Ticketmaster, Rage Against the Machine have already sold out twice this week…and their tickets are not even on sale yet! pic.twitter.com/cxllAfo4Od
— Tom Schenck (@thomasschenck) February 11, 2020
Since Rage Against the Machine sold out. I have more money to do other fun things this summer.
— Griffin…Couldn’t bring sexy back. (@Griffin1981) February 14, 2020
Just went to get Rage Against The Machine tickets and they are already sold out #sobummed #thatsucks
— Rebecca Thompson (@thompson3rst) February 14, 2020
I saw Rage Against The Machine at Rock The Bells years ago and RTJ twice now. Both great acts to see live. Heard the tickets for both shows in Oakland sold out immediately and now resale prices are way high. People suck! This aftermarket business is truly wack.
— Shingo Kohara (@onetwocross) February 14, 2020
Tried to get Rage Against the Machine @RATM tickets in Glendale, AZ but there was a long queue to get in & then once in ALL the tickets listed were taken when you clicked it. Did that dozens of times, but then all tickets were sold out! Now I’m Raging Against THIS Machine!! pic.twitter.com/CTU4VhmxNZ
— Luis Alejo (@SupervisorAlejo) February 13, 2020
This might be a weird take: Rage Against the Machine tickets were still too cheap! Show sold out almost right away.
— Jeremy Baker (@Jeremy_Baker) February 13, 2020
Rage against the Machine went on sale today at 11am. 11:17 SOLD OUT.
When it let me in it tried to sell me a ticket to the mens room… LOL— Big Jim P (@TheJimPl9) February 13, 2020
I really want to go to rage against the machine show but ticket master is telling me they sold out wtf
— STLBLUES/CARDS (@deniselita) February 14, 2020
It’s dope that Run the Jewels are going on tour with Rage Against the Machine but also it super sucks being completely unable to see RTJ because Rage reunion tour tickets sold out instantly to scalpers.
— Ben Gilbert (@RealBenGilbert) February 13, 2020
So I guess Rage Against the Machine tickets sold out in 7 minutes….
— 13 Inches Flacid (@Jacob4L) February 13, 2020
For all those looking to buy Rage Against the Machine tix: if you are seeing that it’s sold out, keep refreshing, KEEP TRYING. I got the sold out screen but kept trying and eventually got lower level. Looks like they aren’t releasing tix all at once. KEEP CHECKING #RATM @tmorello
— Brian Clausen (@BWClausen) February 13, 2020
Rage Against the Machine sold out in less than 8mins!!! Got mine!!
— One- Buffalo (@scott_lasker) February 13, 2020
Slightly devastated I’ll now have to offer a blood sacrifice, the soul of my first born and empty my credit union account to try get a day ticket to see Rage Against the Machine at EP.
Booking an already sold out festival is weak tho.18 years olds on pills don’t understand
— Murph (@MurpheousYT) February 11, 2020
rage against the machine tickets sold out and i didn’t even have a chance to sniff them :((
— armand é innamorata (@halfevildevil) February 14, 2020
$299 for floor seats to Rage Against the Machine, get the hell outta here. I’m not seeing them then. I could listen to about 10 songs of theirs that goes against this pricing. Alexa, play songs by, “That band that sold out to capitalism”. “Ok, I’ll play songs by RATM”.
— CLE/OSUFan (@COsufan) February 13, 2020
well GA tickets for rage against the machine were sold out real quick
— Jasmine (@jasrhymes93) February 13, 2020
Only $725 spent on Rage Against The Machine tickets. Show sold out of GA standing room right away…and I was waiting…so I had to settle for seats. Then they added a second show…and I got in on GA there. Looks like I get to see them twice. #RageAgainstTheMachine #RATM
— Jacob Stock (@stock3jacob) February 13, 2020
Rage Against the Machine floor tickets sold out in 2 minutes. All good whatever. Had to settle for upper bowl seats, all good. but the fact that upper bowl seats cost the same price as floor seats, downright NOT all good
— d domp (@dthomplol) February 13, 2020
Buying Rage Against the Machine tickets to sell them immediately for 4x the original price is like the antithesis of RATM fuck these scalpers and they moms
— David (@davidiscolombia) February 13, 2020
Shoutout to scalpers for buying all the tickets to the rage against the machine tour already. Guess if you wanna see your favorite bands these days you gotta pay $300+ for resales. What a joke.
— ℙℝVOYD @ The Caverns (@j_spilker) February 13, 2020
Pretty hypocritical of Rage Against The Machine to even sell tickets through the worst monopolistic company ever in the first place though. Doncha think, @tmorello?
But fuck capitalism right?
It’s not @Ticketmaster’s fault, it’s the scalpers! Sure.
— Jason J Thomas (@JasonJThomas) February 14, 2020
All this talk about @RATM fighting back against scalpers and insane ticket prices, but the only tickets available are nosebleeds for $190 + $80 in processing fee ♂️ so, rage against the machine but not too hard, I guess
— Bobby Cobras (@BobbyCobras) February 13, 2020
okay see this is a problem. first of all its not scalpers that raised prices…rage against the machine had certain charity tickets two of which i bought and these were more expensive for obvious reasons. im mad at scapers for making it harder to find a decent seat https://t.co/Y63HmC2fC8
— helen⁷ (@helena42_) February 13, 2020
People who have shit to say about scalpers price of the Rage Against the Machine tickets should, I don’t know, read their website. pic.twitter.com/Pypxn5ehNz
— ✨ (@_bexology) February 13, 2020
I think it’s kind of ridiculous to expect a band as big as Rage Against the Machine to do a reunion tour after not playing shows for years and not run into any difficulties trying to find a way to sell tickets without letting scalpers take advantage. Regardless of their politics,
— Aireck Filllips (@earachefillips) February 14, 2020
Im upset about rage against the machine tickets, lex and I are both at work even when we got into queue the nose bleeds went up to $130 like tf we just got System of a Down pit tickets for $150. There’s a special place in hell for bum ass scalpers.
— Wolf Dick (@WELDERJVCK) February 13, 2020
Managed to get Rage Against the Machine tickets before the scalpers wish I was this lucky when MCR was selling theirs
— Andrew Didio (@HeisenDids91) February 13, 2020
Someone tell Rage Against The Machine, and indeed all Americans, the word is touts and not scalpers.
— michael (@mikejhemsley) February 13, 2020
Rage against the machine tickets sold out in less than 10 minutes! Fucking scalpers man!
— John (@JohnnyTsunami03) February 13, 2020
Did you buy tickets for RATM today? Did you notice the “charity seats”? Some tickets being $1000+
Here’s the explanation. Might give you clarity on how they came to these ticket prices.
– @Pamkirbyonair #yeg https://t.co/AVG8xerUdh— 100.3 The Bear (@1003TheBear) February 14, 2020
Scalpers fucked me out of Rage Against The Machine & Run The Jewels tickets. Ticketmaster needs a smite, right in the taint.
— Jordan Hooper (@SomeDudeFromTX) February 13, 2020
Holy shit! I beat the scalpers and bots and scored pit tickets for rage against the machine! There were over 2000+ people in the queue when they added a second DC date. Woohoo! Have not seen these dudes play since… https://t.co/RJGcXoAMQu
— Bruce Emery (@ThAtDigiTaLkiD) February 13, 2020
Rage against the machine is making every seat the same cost to prevent ticket scalpers.
They’re also not delivering tickets until 10 days before.
— Philip Yun (@philipyun103) February 13, 2020
How the fuck do scalpers already have Rage Against The Machine tickets on stubhub for $150+ when they don’t even go on sale until tomorrow morning
— (\/)|•,,,,•| (\/) (@Dave_cowbear) February 12, 2020
Last year, Billboard issued a report on how major artists engage in the ticket resale market. It’s rather unfortunate how major ticket sites such as Ticketmaster appear to be in on this too. Devoted fans have a choice to either miss the show or pay an absurd amount just to attend their favorite concert due to the flawed system that doesn’t seem to be fixed anytime soon.
[via MetalSucks]
