talking tickets Archives - Wakeman Consulting Group

The Broker Debate: Three Voices…More Than One Truth?

This started on Tuesday. Randy Nichols drew a comparison between bootleggers and ticket brokers. (As the grandson of a famous Georgia bootlegger, I took no offense.) “The carry inventory, risk, need to deal with forecasting,” he wrote. “But at the end of the day, they aren’t a partner. They’re stealing.” Josh Ludwig jumped on that […]

Even if the States Win, Will It Be Enough?

Thirty-six states and DC returned to the courtroom Monday. They rejected the DOJ’s settlement. They hired a rock star of antitrust. They are presenting evidence. And the evidence is brutal. Bob Roux, Live Nation’s president of US concerts, took the stand on Monday. He claimed “more competition than ever.” He denied blocking artists from non-Ticketmaster […]

How I’d Like to Help You This Year

I deliver original, insightful content every week. Once a quarter, I do a self-serving update about how I can help you. 5 Ways I Deliver Value There are 5 ways you find me. In no particular order: Here’s what each looks like in practice. Strategic Advisory I work with leaders who feel Strategic Drift. Revenue […]

Why I Keep Writing About Live Nation

What Talking Tickets is about for readers, old and new. Why Live Nation? Why Now? I’ve been writing a lot about Live Nation over the last few days. The trial. The secret settlement. The unsealed documents. The David Marcus reply on LinkedIn. It’s a lot. Especially since I don’t really ever write about or think […]

David Marcus Replied. Now I Have Receipts.

Does David Marcus Still Think There’s No Evidence of Predatory Behavior? David Marcus was certain. In response to my post on the state of the live entertainment business, he took offense to me saying that Live Nation had won, but everyone else had lost. He replied to Charles Kaufman’s comment on LinkedIn to call me […]

The Fix Was Always In

Dan Wall stood in a Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday and said there’s “zero chance” the states will settle. Judge Subramanian shot back: “Not with that attitude.” (I like judges with the same dismissive attitude towards nonsense that I have.) 25 states are still fighting. They know this settlement is a bad deal. It doesn’t stop […]

Judge Arun Subramanian. Live Nation. DOJ. Settlement?

This morning, rumors broke: Live Nation and the Department of Justice were about to agree to a settlement of the DOJ’s antitrust case that began last week in New York. The headlines will likely call this settlement historic. A landmark agreement. A new day in ticketing. As if?! Here’s what’s really going down: The flywheel keeps spinning. […]