(hype bot) — renew: After the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) called on Yelp to stop directing users to affiliate sites selling fake tickets and inflating prices, the recommendation site removed the offending links. A war of words ensued between NIVA and TicketNetwork, the offending ticket reseller.
According to NIVA, Yelp has been misleading users by directing them to the Yelp-branded TicketNetwork website, which sells counterfeit and overpriced tickets. NIVA said in a statement: “By partnering with TicketNetwork, a company known for anti-competitive and predatory conduct, Yelp not only perpetuates these unethical practices, but also undermines consumer trust and diverts legitimate Ticket sales have come to heavily impact independent venues.
A question since 2016
cry First with ticketing network Providing a “one-stop shop for high-demand entertainment tickets” in 2016. The partnership continues despite more than a hundred one-star reviews on Yelp, the platform’s lowest rating.
“This is fraud!,one Yelp user wrote last month. “Please be aware of this site, who is a scammer! They double the price of all activities and refuse to refund. Stay away!
Here’s Yelp’s reaction and TicketNetwork’s and NIVA’s reactions to the removal.
Concerns highlighted in NIVA’s letter to Yelp include:
- Selling non-existent or inaccurately listed tickets: “Many consumers purchased event tickets that either did not exist or had incorrect dates and times, leading to confusion and disappointment.”
- Lack of transparency on ticket details: “Tickets are often sold without designated areas or seats, leaving consumers in the dark about what they are purchasing.”
- Selling voting tickets or counterfeit tickets: “Tickets sold through the Yelp platform are often not owned by the resellers, and many of these tickets are outright fraudulent.”
- Price gouging: “Tickets are typically sold at 2 to 15 times their face value, even though tickets at face value can still be purchased directly from the venue’s legitimate ticketing platform.”
“Yelp has a responsibility to the communities it serves, but its platform currently engages in predatory ticket sales practices that exploit consumers and undermine independent venues,” said Stephen Parker, Executive Director of NIVA. “This is not just a matter of business ethics; this is about protecting the cultural fabric of our community. By partnering with companies like TicketNetwork, which has a long history of legal action, Yelp is promoting a system that preys on consumers and undermines the integrity of the live entertainment industry. History of problematic and unethical behavior.
Read NIVA’s full letter to Yelp here.
Yelp response
In response to NIVA’s letter, cry A spokesperson told Pollstar, “For 20 years, Yelp’s mission has been to connect people with great local businesses, including independent venues. We thank NIVA for bringing their concerns about TicketNetwork to our attention and have taken immediate steps to shut down the integration.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Yelp updated its statement to the media to include that they had “removed the (TicketNetwork) integration.”
TicketNetwork’s reaction and NIVA’s counterattack
On Wednesday afternoon, Yelp’s former partner ticket reseller ticketing network issued a lengthy statement falsely questioning NIVA’s motives and independence:
“Unfortunately, consumers on the Yelp platform do not have access to a free and independent marketplace that hosts resale tickets for events around the world.”
“The highly biased letter from a so-called ‘independent’ organization referenced in your article repeats talking points generated by a company that is currently being sought by the Department of Justice and Attorney General representing more than 296 million Americans. Long sued as an illegal monopoly, they are a desperate attempt to distract consumers and legislators from the real reason for the massive increase in live event prices – centralized, coordinated control by a handful of major players. , to suppress consumer choice.
“Ticket prices in the independent market are often well below the original box office price, saving consumers millions of dollars each year. This is despite a concerted effort by the industry to paint any platform that is not directly managed by the artist or controlled by the promoter as offering “fake” or “Counterfeit” tickets, but marketplaces like TicketNetwork guarantee consumers will receive the purchased tickets, a suitable replacement (subject to buyer approval), or a full refund.
“NIVA and other industry efforts are pushing for legislation aimed at bolstering Live Nation Entertainment’s alleged monopoly dominance of ticketing by extending it to ticket resale. TicketNetwork joins other independent markets and numerous consumer advocacy groups in urging support for genuine Ticket reform, either independently of the truly “comprehensive” price transparency Ticket Act passed by the House, or through the sweeping reforms promised by BOSS and the SWIFT Act championed by the late New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell.
“Their lies fool no one”
NIVA Executive Director Stephen Parker responded: “NIVA was founded to save the independent live industry, which is made up of mom-and-pop shops across the country. These stages, their staff and artists need a collective voice to fight for survival during the COVID-19 shutdown.
“In fact, NIVA is an organization that checks and balances anti-competitive behavior by promoters of listed multinational groups.”
“It’s not surprising that TicketNetwork is spreading false information about the small businesses and nonprofits that make up the independent livestreaming community to distract from rampant price gouging and fraud on its legitimate platform. We are certain their lies will not deceive anyone.
Bruce Horton is the founder and editor of Hypebot, a senior consultant at Bandsintown, president of Skyline Artists Agency, and a professor at Berklee College of Music.
