TicketWeb is an online ticketing service that allows consumers to purchase tickets for concerts, sporting events, theater shows, and other live entertainment events. It operates websites for specific venues, promoters, bands, and sports teams to sell their tickets directly to fans. Ticketmaster is the world’s largest ticket sales and distribution company, dominating the industry with exclusive agreements with many major venues and promoters.
The Connection
Yes, TicketWeb is owned by Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster acquired TicketWeb in 2000 for $35 million. This gave Ticketmaster control of one of its largest competitors in online ticketing services. Since then, TicketWeb has continued to operate as a subsidiary of Ticketmaster.
Ticketmaster has utilized TicketWeb to expand its reach in ticketing for smaller music clubs, theaters, festivals, and other events. With TicketWeb integrated into its portfolio of ticketing websites and services, Ticketmaster has strengthened its dominant position in the live entertainment ticketing industry.
History of TicketWeb
TicketWeb was founded in 1996 by Dan Berkowitz as a way for small music venues and promoters to sell tickets online to their events. It provided a ticketing solution for venues that couldn’t get contracts with Ticketmaster to sell tickets through its larger platform.
In its early years, TicketWeb focused on signing up indie rock clubs, small music theaters, film festivals, and similar events. Some of its early clients included the Knitting Factory concert house in New York City, the Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis, and the Seattle International Film Festival.
The company expanded nationally and internationally throughout the late 1990s. As internet commerce took off, TicketWeb positioned itself as a lower cost and more flexible option than Ticketmaster for small- and medium-sized live events.
Ticketmaster Acquires TicketWeb
Seeing the threat posed by TicketWeb’s increasing ticketing inventory, Ticketmaster moved to acquire the company in July 2000. They purchased TicketWeb for $35 million in cash and stock.
Ticketmaster incorporated TicketWeb’s technology into its own systems and kept TicketWeb operating as a separate brand focused on smaller venues and promoters. Under Ticketmaster’s ownership, TicketWeb expanded further into Europe and Australia.
Today, TicketWeb accounts for a relatively small portion of Ticketmaster’s overall business. But it continues to serve the niche market of tickets for independent promoters and venues not contracted to use Ticketmaster for primary ticketing services.
How TicketWeb Works
TicketWeb provides an online ticketing platform and services for venues and event promoters to sell tickets directly from their own branded ticketing website. Here are some key ways TicketWeb functions:
White Label Ticketing Websites
TicketWeb offers promoters a white label ticketing website customized with their own branding, URLs, design, and content. This creates a seamless experience for the venue or event to sell tickets through their own website.
No Long-Term Contracts
Unlike Ticketmaster, TicketWeb does not require long-term exclusivity contracts. Promoters can use TicketWeb on a per-event basis or short term month-to-month contracts.
Lower Fees
Compared to Ticketmaster, TicketWeb typically charges lower fees on each ticket sold. Fees consist of a small per-ticket fee, a percentage of the ticket price, and sometimes a small order processing fee.
Direct Artist-to-Fan Sales
TicketWeb provides ticketing services directly to bands and performers. This allows artists to sell tickets directly to fans from their official website.
Integrated Payment Processing
TicketWeb handles all payment processing of tickets, including credit cards and promo codes. This simplifies the process for promoters.
Customizable Platform
Promoters can customize TicketWeb’s ticketing platform for their specific needs, including ticket prices, seat maps, bundles, add-ons, and more.
Ticket Distribution Options
TicketWeb offers several options for ticket distribution: print-at-home tickets, mailable hard tickets, and mobile entry to events by scanning a phone.
Benefits for Promoters Using TicketWeb
Here are some of the key advantages TicketWeb offers to promoters:
- Lower ticketing fees keeps more revenue with the promoter.
- Completely online ticketing without contracts.
- Fully branded ticketing websites.
- Flexibility for small, medium, and large events.
- Robust e-marketing features.
- Client dashboard for managing events and tickets.
- Integration with social media for event promotion.
- Accept all major payment types online.
- Dedicated customer support.
Ticketmaster’s Control of Ticketing
Although TicketWeb serves a niche role today, its acquisition was an important move for Ticketmaster to control more ticketing inventory online. Here are some ways Ticketmaster dominates event ticketing:
Exclusive Venue Deals
Ticketmaster secures long-term exclusive contracts with major venues and promoters for primary ticketing services. This locks out competitors.
Dynamic Pricing
Ticketmaster utilizes adjustable dynamic pricing on tickets for high demand events, increasing profits.
Service Fees
Ticketmaster adds high service fees to each ticket sold on its platform, generating huge revenue.
Secondary Market
Ticketmaster owns secondary ticket exchange site TicketExchange, earning additional fees on ticket resales.
Data and Analytics
Ticket sales data and analytics gives Ticketmaster a key competitive edge for promotions, pricing, and inventory control.
TicketWeb Alternatives
In addition to TicketWeb, here are some other smaller ticketing companies that provide alternatives to Ticketmaster for independent promoters and venues:
AXS
AXS is a ticketing platform owned by AEG that competes with Ticketmaster in the primary and resale market.
Eventbrite
Eventbrite offers DIY ticketing services for smaller music, lifestyle, and community events.
Brown Paper Tickets
Brown Paper Tickets focuses on small venues, local theater, and niche event promoters.
Ticketfly
Ticketfly provided lower cost ticketing but was acquired by Eventbrite in 2017.
Ticketleap
Ticketleap appeals to very small and independent DIY promoters.
TicketTailor
TicketTailor serves smaller venues in the UK and Europe region.
Conclusion
In summary, TicketWeb is a subsidiary of Ticketmaster that serves independent promoters and venues with more flexible online ticketing services. Even though Ticketmaster controls a huge share of major event ticketing, TicketWeb and other small competitors still provide alternatives for niche ticketing markets. Smaller promoters can benefit from TicketWeb’s lower fees, customizable platform, and lack of long-term contracts compared to Ticketmaster.