Rage Against The Machine has implemented their own plan to fight scalpers ahead of their forthcoming reunion tour.
The group caused some noise in the industry when they announced a 40-date Public Service Announcement reunion tour this year – their first trek in almost ten years. However, tickets are already up-for-grabs on the secondary market before the tour officially heads on sale Thursday, February 13. Tickets were already available on StubHub, with a pair of tickets for a gig in Oakland adding up to almost $400 each.
Yesterday, the group shared a statement on their website regarding scalpers and brokers sharing fake tickets, noting that “we want to do everything we can to protect our fans from predatory scalping” and “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 RATM tickets from scalpers and then WE are holding in reserve 10% of the seating (random seats throughout each venue) to sell at a higher price (but low enough to undercut the scalpers),” the band said. “We will donate 100% OF THE MONEY over the base ticket price to charities and activist organizations 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 and find ways to combat it. Additionally, we are donating all profits from our first three shows to immigrants’ rights organizations and will be supporting multiple charities and activist organizations throughout the tour.”
Holding back tickets and selling them at inflated prices has been a long-known practice of many artists – either using Ticketmaster’s “Platinum” branding on seats that are otherwise identical to others in the same section, or selling them through secondary marketplaces, such as what Metallica’s management admitted to doing on its WorldWired Tour and numerous other artists have been long-rumored to engage in to maximize tour profits.
Vocalist Zack De La Rocha, guitarist Tom Morello, drummer Brad Wilk, and bassist Tim Commerford will join forces for the Public Service Announcement Tour, kicking-off with several shows surrounding their Coachella appearances, followed by a 2020 installment across the country throughout the summer. The group last released Renegades in 2000 before breaking up.
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The charity tickets, at least for the New York shows, are over double what the going rate on the secondary market is. I’m also not sure what they are doing to “protect” the other 90% of the inventory. A general public onsale…tickets flew pretty fast
Nice try RATM!..you’re the scalper and everybody knows it!
My grandsons unable afford tickets! Make tickets non transfer so fans can purchase
Want donate use you money and not your fan’s money
Wow, how “anti-Capitalist” they pretend to be. If they were serious about combating scalping they’d play for free.
Why the hell should they play for free? You do realize there are costs associated with touring, right? And in an era where performing artists no longer can rely on record sales to make money, they earn a living on the road.
How would you feel if your boss asked you to work for free?
I bet getting in the venue will take hours if they are really checking that ticket names match your ID. Why not just have a free show that’s first come first serve. No scalpers would ever try that one. PS Minnesota misses Matt and the boys from A7X!!!!! Come back to First Ave soon.
why not? because if theres a stampede and someone is hurt the band, promoters and venue will all be sued
And now their book will come out …
“On Becoming The Machine You Used To Rage Against”
$450 for general admission in Tacoma? Cool. Cause no one I know can afford that.
It was easier to get Pearl Jam tickets. RATM should have followed what they did to prevent scalpers. AND some of the ticket price went to charity, with it still being affordable.
Why should they play for free? How would you feel if your boss asked you to work for free?