The Cure

The Cure's Robert Smith has addressed issues with the band's attempt to sell "affordable" tickets through Ticketmaster's Verified Fan System.

BECAUSE IT IS ITSELF A BIT OF A SCAM? Listed below are a few of the artists who have effectively used VF to limit resale.”Advertisement The touts get an unfair share of tickets and resell them on these marketplaces." IT IS A GREEDY SCAM — AND ALL ARTISTS HAVE THE CHOICE NOT TO PARTICIPATE… [calling out](https://twitter.com/RobertSmith/status/1635818349086031873) secondary ticketing sites and [citing a statement](https://twitter.com/RobertSmith/status/1635818469487771652) with statistics about the success of Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan platform, Smith [wrote](https://twitter.com/RobertSmith/status/1635818630163169280), “We were CONVINCED THAT TICKETMASTER’S ‘Verified Fan Page’ AND ‘Face Value Ticket Exchange’ IDEAS COULD HELP US FIGHT THE SCALPERS… [warned fans](https://twitter.com/RobertSmith/status/1635375369271508993) against purchasing “insanely priced” Cure tickets from “scammers” on secondary market sites.

“TM HAVE JUST TOLD ME 'ALL tickets for The Cure Shows Of A Lost World Tour will be made available during tomorrow's Verified Fan Sale,'” Smith tweeted, adding, ...

In the final comment in the Twitter run, Smith noted he’d been told that TM will continued to sell tickets to Verified users “until there are no more tickets to sell.” [ticketing](https://www.billboard.com/t/ticketing/) comes after a season of in-demand tours facing astronomical price increases due to dynamic ticketing and scalpers. For fans who purchase tickets but can’t make it to the event, they will be able to resell the ticket on a face-value ticket exchange. In a shot across the bow at re-sellers, when the tickets for the 30-date run of Shows of a Lost World Tour went on sale Wednesday morning (March 15) to those who pre-registered using Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan system, will be [non-transferrable](https://www.billboard.com/pro/the-cure-ban-ticket-resale-tour/) in order to minimize resale and keep prices at face value. The singer also tweeted that though TM’s Verified Fan is a “far from perfect system,” the reality is that if there aren’t enough tickets on sale, some fans will miss out no matter what system the Cure use. The singer went on a tweet spree on Tuesday (March 14) in which he explicitly described how and why the veteran goth rockers decided to go their own way on this outing.

In an effort to keep ticket prices reasonable, the band agreed to Ticketmaster's Verified Fan plan, which is designed to keep scalpers and bots from snapping up ...

Obviously, Ticketmaster and American regulators can do a whole lot more to make the ticket-buying process less of a nightmare. If you want to buy tickets to a Cure show, then, you’ll probably have to jump through those Verified Fan hoops. The touts get an unfair share of tickets and resell them on these marketplaces.”

Just last week, legendary indie band The Cure announced they would hit the road for a North American tour this summer for the first time since 2016.

BECAUSE IT IS ITSELF A BIT OF A SCAM? hella thankful for the verified fan thing tho. One user on Twitter uploaded a screenshot of their checkout screen, which lists ticket prices at $20 a pop while fees for those same tickets cost more than the tickets themselves.

Robert Smith continues to chat openly with fans about issues surrounding the pre-sale ticket registration for the Cure's summer tour.

“We know it is a far from perfect system — but the reality is that if there aren’t enough tickets onsale, a number of fans are going to miss out whatever system we use,” he continued. “At least this one tries to get tickets into the hands of fans at a fair price … [longer series of post](https://twitter.com/robertsmith)s yesterday, acknowledging the system is imperfect and that the Cure had acted on advice from Ticketmaster about the best ways to reduce rampant scalping.

The Cure had hoped to make tickets affordable for their first U.S. tour in seven years. But Ticketmaster's gonna Ticketmaster, so fees sometimes exceeded ...

[has been on a Twitter rampage](https://twitter.com/RobertSmith) since even before tickets went on sale today. BECAUSE IT IS ITSELF A BIT OF A SCAM? The band insisted that tickets for their Shows of a Lost World tour, their first U.S. (WE DIDN’T AGREE TO THE 'DYNAMIC PRICING' / 'PRICE SURGING’ / ‘PLATINUM TICKET' THING... Legendary English rock band The Cure thought they had the cure to the modern-day scourge of astonishingly high ticket prices. The Cure had hoped to make tickets affordable for their first U.S.

Fans are going to Twitter to report that Ticketmaster is charging more in fees than for the actual concert ticket for popular band The Cure.

[Pilgrimage Festival](https://fox17.com/news/local/middle-tennessee-events-shows-concerts-nathaniel-rateliff-and-the-night-sweats-festival-the-lumineers-zach-bryan-to-headline-2023-pilgrimage-music-cultural-fest-in-franklin#), even released an album in reaction called ["All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster." [Jonathan Skrmetti](https://fox17.com/news/entertainment/nashville-area-middle-tn-local-news-entertainment-presale-ticket-chaos-tennessees-ag-addresses-ticketmasters-effort-to-give-taylor-swift-fans-second-chance#), even got involved in reaction to the fiasco. Marsha Blackburn](https://fox17.com/news/local/government-politics-concert-live-music-entertainment-sen-blackburn-grills-ticketmaster-after-taylor-swift-chaos-upsets-fans#) and Attorney Gen.

Ticketmaster is once again causing anger and frustration for frequent concertgoers and music fans. The Cure, a British alternative rock band, ...

Tickets are currently selling for anywhere from $132 to more than $800 on More: depicts the ticket charges as well as the fees. Four tickets were purchased for $80 and an additional $92 was added for services fees, order processing fees, and facility charges totaling $172.10. They also agreed not to let people resell their tickets for profit. [What to know about ticket reselling in Michigan](https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/03/10/ticket-scalping-reselling-in-michigan/69995312007/)

The Cure's Robert Smith has directly responded to fans' complaints about the fees collected by Ticketmaster during the band's “Verified Fan” sale for ...

[Wish](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-cure-wish/) last year. The band’s last studio album was 2008’s [4:13 Dream](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12380-413-dream/). Last year the Justice Department opened an [antitrust investigation](https://pitchfork.com/news/justice-department-to-investigate-live-nation-entertainment-for-potential-abuse-of-power/) into Live Nation Entertainment—the company formed after Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged in 2010—for potential abuse of power. [The Cure](https://pitchfork.com/artists/873-the-cure/)’s [Robert Smith](https://pitchfork.com/artists/6163-robert-smith/) has directly responded to fans’ complaints about the fees collected by Ticketmaster during the band’s “Verified Fan” sale for tickets to dates on its [upcoming tour](https://pitchfork.com/news/the-cure-announce-2023-north-american-tour/). [posted](https://twitter.com/RobertSmith/status/1635804485975961600) about the band’s decision to use Ticketmaster’s “Verified Fan” system in an effort to combat scalping and get more face-value tickets in fans’ hands. An earlier investigation found in 2019 that the company had [repeatedly violated](https://pitchfork.com/news/department-of-justice-cracks-down-on-live-nation-and-ticketmaster/) a 10-year consent decree to refrain from monopolistic practices signed after the merger.

The frontman said that artists had no way to limit the ticketing giant's fees but his band had declined to participate in the 'greedy scam' of dynamic ...

“Shaped by the deaths of several members of Smith’s family, Songs of a Lost World threatens to be a bleak record … The band previewed material from the album on a run of UK dates in December. The Cure are expected to return with Songs of a Lost World, their 14th studio album, later this year. He continued: “We didn’t agree to the ‘dynamic pricing’/‘price surging’/‘platinum ticket’ thing … The band purposefully kept ticket costs affordable, with some as low as $20 (£16). If I get anything coherent by way of an answer I will let you all know.”

When The Cure announced their 2023 US tour, they promised fans they'd worked hard to keep the ticket prices low. "We want the tour to be affordable for all ...

They add up to hundreds of dollars a month." "In some cases, delivery fees may include a profit to Ticketmaster." - Service fee / Order processing fee: Added by Ticketmaster, to offset the costs of selling and shipping tickets. "We're tired of being played for suckers. It breaks down the cost of a ticket as follows: - Facility charge: Set by each individual venue, to help with operating costs. "In the meantime, I am compelled to note down my obvious recurring elephant in the room thought: That if no-one bought from scalpers, then..." Some of the more expensive seats cost $90 (£74.50) each, for example. why haven't you done more to reduce fees?" He responded that Ticketmaster does "not set ticket prices" and that "the majority" of added fees "go to the venue, not to Ticketmaster". "I have been asking how they are justified. But I hadn't!

The Cure's Robert Smith has said he is "sickened" by high Ticketmaster fees for the band's upcoming North American tour.

I WILL BE BACK IF I GET ANYTHING SERIOUS ON THE TM FEES… CITIES IN STATES THAT HAVE LAWS PROTECTING SCALPERS). Smith added: “I will be back if I get anything serious on the tm fees… IF I GET ANYTHING COHERENT BY WAY OF AN ANSWER I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW. He continued: “To be very clear: the artist has no way to limit them. Smith has since elaborated on the ticketing strategy, acknowledging “real problems” with the system and that it wasn’t “perfect”, but did clarify that the band had a “final say” over pricing.

TO BE VERY CLEAR: THE ARTIST HAS NO WAY TO LIMIT THEM,“ Robert Smith says of Ticketmaster service fees which in some cases appeared to be more than the ...

[attempts to keep their tickets off the secondary market](https://www.brooklynvegan.com/the-cures-robert-smith-talks-tickets-scalpers-more-i-realise-there-are-problems/). THEN..." "I AM AS SICKENED AS YOU ALL ARE BY TODAY'S TICKETMASTER 'FEES' DEBACLE," he wrote. CITIES IN STATES THAT HAVE LAWS PROTECTING SCALPERS). IF I GET ANYTHING COHERENT BY WAY OF AN ANSWER I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW." Or in the case of

The Cure's Robert Smith said he was 'sickened' to see hefty fees added to prices for the group's tour, adding to the criticism around Ticketmaster.

[Live Nation, which has posted record earnings](https://variety.com/2023/music/news/live-nation-2022-year-end-results-launches-fair-ticketing-act-1235533747/) since the pandemic lifted and projects even higher profits for 2023, has launched what it calls the “ [FAIR Ticketing Act](https://variety.com/2023/music/news/live-nation-2022-year-end-results-launches-fair-ticketing-act-1235533747/),” the main tenets state that “artists should decide resale rules,” which would be an effort to allow artists to take the lead in preventing exploitative prices on the secondary market; “make it illegal to sell speculative tickets,” addressing scalpers’ habit of tricking fans into buying tickets that do not yet exist; “expand the BOTS Act,” to combat the widespread use of ticket-buying bots on the secondary market; “crack down on resale sites that are safe havens for scalpers,” which would force secondary-market sites to police the activity on their platforms more aggressively; and “mandate all-in-pricing nationally,” which would address the processing and other fees that often are not revealed until very late in the sale process. [Live Nation CFO Joe Berchtold appeared before a highly critical Senate committee](https://variety.com/2023/music/news/congress-sentate-committee-hearing-taylor-swift-ticketmaster-live-nation-1235501279/) in January, although that hearing largely amounted to an airing of grievances and posturing for constituents by certain senators. It is a greedy scam – and all artists have the choice not to participate… [Ticketmaster](https://variety.com/t/ticketmaster/) ‘Fees’ debacle,”’ Smith wrote in part of a [ long string of all-caps Tweets](https://twitter.com/RobertSmith?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor). “TM have just told me ‘all tickets for the Cure shows of a Lost World tour will be made available during tomorrow’s Verified Fan sale,’” he wrote. “All the ‘secondary ticket market’ sites showing insanely price Cure tickets are a con,” he wrote on March 13.

“I AM AS SICKENED AS YOU ALL ARE BY TODAY'S TICKETMASTER 'FEES' DEBACLE,” Smith tweeted. “TO BE VERY CLEAR: THE ARTIST HAS NO WAY TO LIMIT THEM. I HAVE BEEN ...

“I AM AS SICKENED AS YOU ALL ARE BY TODAY’S TICKETMASTER ‘FEES’ DEBACLE,” Smith tweeted. I WILL BE BACK IF I GET ANYTHING SERIOUS ON THE TM FEES… Then, in a series of tweets, he [acknowledged some problems](https://www.stereogum.com/2216944/robert-smith-acknowledges-problems-with-the-cures-us-ticketing-strategy/news/) with that strategy, mainly that it’s extremely difficult for many fans to actually acquire access to the ticket sale.

The Cure's Robert Smith Rages Against the Ticketmaster Machine Over Added Fees: 'I Am Sickened'. Fans posted screenshots of what they said were receipts with ...

[ticketing](https://www.billboard.com/t/ticketing/) comes after a season of in-demand tours facing astronomical price increases due to dynamic ticketing and scalpers. “I WILL BE BACK IF I GET ANYTHING SERIOUS ON THE TM FEES… IN THE MEANTIME, I AM COMPELLED TO NOTE DOWN MY OBVIOUS RECURRING ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM THOUGHT… For fans who purchase tickets but can’t make it to the event, they will be able to resell the ticket on a face-value ticket exchange. IT IS A GREEDY SCAM – AND ALL ARTISTS HAVE THE CHOICE NOT TO PARTICIPATE… IF NO ARTISTS PARTICIPATED, IT WOULD CEASE TO EXIST.”

The Cure have been very transparent since announcing their first U.S. tour since 2016 what their plan was and what they hoped to accomplish in keeping ticket ...

[Verified Fan registration for The Cure's tour closed](https://verifiedfan.ticketmaster.com/thecure2023/finished) on Monday, March 13. [widely circulated tweets](https://twitter.com/solusandra/status/1636068658710470660), seen below, shows the cost of four tickets at $80 ($20 per ticket). [final say in our ticket pricing](https://twitter.com/RobertSmith/status/1635818283378016258) for this upcoming tour, and didn't want those prices instantly and horribly distorted by resale," Smith [commented ahead of the ticket sale](https://loudwire.com/the-cure-tickets-cost-more-in-fees-fans-mad/). government's scrutiny following the Swift fiasco, are now engaging in a plan to better educate customers and lawmakers about all of those fees that stack on to purchases. He soon added to the discussion, weighing in on the fact that some tickets still found their way to secondary sales sites. IN THE MEANTIME, I AM COMPELLED TO NOTE DOWN MY OBVIOUS RECURRING ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM THOUGHT... "I WILL BE BACK IF I GET ANYTHING SERIOUS ON THE TM FEES... He later noted, "We [didn't agree to the dynamic pricing / price surging / platinum ticket thing](https://twitter.com/RobertSmith/status/1635818746190102530), because it itself is a bit of a scam? It is a greedy scam - and all artists have the choice not to participate ... if no artists participated, it would cease to exist." While some fans may be upset, The Cure frontman Robert Smith also shared his frustration via social media late Wednesday (March 15) as well. tour since 2016 what their plan was and what they hoped to accomplish in keeping ticket prices low and limiting access for scalpers.

Hanif and Yasi continue on their voyage through the Cure's discography, from 'The Head on the Door' to 'Disintegration'

[Hanif and Yasi continue on their voyage](https://open.spotify.com/episode/5SuaQ1FZVgpkxm3srqVAQD), picking up in the heart of the Cure’s discography. [here](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/647QhOpb2HfJUhYiIF1KmD?si=87156fa1f52f4ed8). [@NifMuhammad](https://twitter.com/NifMuhammad?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)

The Cure tried to keep prices low for shows on its upcoming tour. But Ticketmaster fees cost more than the tickets.

Smith called the practice a [“greedy scam.”](https://twitter.com/RobertSmith/status/1636073365373956100) I have been asking how they are justified.” What had been an $80 total for four tickets quickly ballooned to a total charge of $172. [Swift fans were left empty handed after waiting for hours for tickets](https://www.boston.com/culture/music/2023/01/31/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-senate-hearing-boston-reactions-gillette-stadium/) in November for the superstar’s upcoming “Eras Tour.” ( [Swift is set to play Gillette Stadium for three nights in May](https://www.boston.com/things-to-do/concerts/taylor-swift-eras-tour-gillette-stadium-tickets/).) “I am as sickened as you all are by today’s Ticketmaster ‘fees’ debacle,” Smith wrote in a tweet. [Ticketmaster executives were questioned at a Senate hearing in January ](https://www.boston.com/culture/entertainment/2023/01/24/senators-grill-ticketmaster-after-taylor-swift-fiasco/)about the company’s dominance and control over the live music industry. “We want the tour to be affordable for all fans, and we have a very wide (and we think very fair) range of pricing at every show,” the band wrote in [“verified fan” system](https://www.ticketmaster.pl/feature/verified-fan/?language=en-us) — where fans pre-register for a chance to be given a code to access ticket sales — would help fight against scalpers. [tweet](https://twitter.com/RobertSmith/status/1635818746190102530) Tuesday, said the band did not agree to [Ticketmaster’s controversial “dynamic pricing” or “price surging” model](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/08/17/springsteen-ticketmaster-dynamic-pricing-infuriates-music-fans/10310415002/), which has been responsible for driving ticket prices for artists like Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen into the thousands. [the Xfinity Center in Mansfield on June 18](https://concerts.livenation.com/the-cure-mansfield-massachusetts-06-18-2023/event/01005E4A9DEA368D?_gl=1*y0uqak*_ga*NDk1NDI2MzY1LjE2Nzg5NzU4NDg.*_ga_H1KKSGW33X*MTY3ODk3NTg1MC4xLjAuMTY3ODk3NTg1MC42MC4wLjA.&_ga=2.173611171.1611490693.1678975848-495426365.1678975848) — ended up paying more in “service,” “facility,” and “order processing” fees than they did for the actual tickets. Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.com [charging fans sky-high prices](https://www.boston.com/community/readers-say/hundreds-or-thousands-for-concert-tickets-no-thanks-say-irked-boston-com-readers/) in the past year, fans weren’t grumbling about ticket prices this time around — rather, it was those extra fees tacked on at the end of the transaction.

Fans of the British band complain that the event company's charges exceed the face value of concert tickets.

The Senate Judiciary Committee's antitrust panel earlier this year held a hearing over whether Live Nation Entertainment — the company that owns Ticketmaster — and several other ticket service providers violated laws to preserve competition and [should be broken up](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/taylor-swift-fans-and-congress-take-on-ticketmaster/). [as well as a lawsuit](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/taylor-swift-fans-sue-ticketmaster-eras-tour-ticket-sales/), when it canceled a public sale of Taylor Swift tour tickets after sky-high demand caused its website to crash. [abused its power](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ticketmaster-live-nation-under-investigation-by-department-of-justice/) over the multibillion-dollar concert industry. "If I get anything coherent by way of an answer I will let you all know." The group also wrote on its [tweeted](https://twitter.com/RobertSmith/status/1636188988238077953?s=20) that he was "sickened" by the Ticketmaster fee "debacle" and had no control over the site's charges.