The Cure’s Robert Smith ‘Sickened’ by ‘Ticketmaster Fees Debacle’ for Upcoming North American Tour

variety.com:

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor The living hell of concert ticket-buying loomed into the foreground again this week, but this time it was not millions clamoring for a limited number of Taylor Swift or Bruce Springsteen tickets but rather attempts by long-running British alternative band the Cure to avoid gouging fans for its forthcoming “Lost World” North American tour.

While the group had managed to avoid such controversial policies as platinum packages and variable pricing, frontman/founder Robert Smith was appalled to see hefty service fees added to the cost of “Verified Fan” tickets, which are intended to protect fans by keeping tickets out of the hands of scalpers, for the tour. “I am as sickened as you all are by today’s Ticketmaster ‘Fees’ debacle,”’ Smith wrote in part of a long string of all-caps Tweets. “To be very clear: The artist has no way to limit them.

I have been asking how they are justified. If I get anything coherent by way of an answer I will let you all know.” I AM AS SICKENED AS YOU ALL ARE BY TODAY'S TICKETMASTER 'FEES' DEBACLE.

TO BE VERY CLEAR: THE ARTIST HAS NO WAY TO LIMIT THEM. I HAVE BEEN ASKING HOW THEY ARE JUSTIFIED. IF I GET ANYTHING COHERENT BY WAY OF AN ANSWER I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW.