Taylor Swift's Verified Fan Program - Good Idea Or Bad Idea?

[Initech]

If you want to buy tickets to Taylor Swift's upcoming "Reputation" tour, you'll need to play a game first.

While isn't yet clear when fans will be able to buy tickets to a Swift show — or even how much tickets will cost — fans can participate in Ticketmaster's "Taylor Swift Tix" program to improve their odds of getting the opportunity to buy a ticket when they become available. The more points you get, according to the terms of the program, the higher your chance of getting a ticket.

The ways you can get points, however, are infuriating Swift fans. On Swift's site, fans can collect and "boost" their points by watching the singer's music video, signing up for her email list, or by purchasing her album or merchandise.

You can get points for buying up to 13 copies of her album (out on November 10) and for buying her merchandise. And the merch is expensive. She's selling $50 T-shirts as well as $60 snake signet rings, like the ones she wears in the "Look What You Made Me Do" music video.
http://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-reputation-tour-tickets-fans-upset-2017-8

As a concert goer, and someone who loves live music and will continue to support live music, I think this is an absolutely horrible idea and it sets a bad precedent. I don't mind the social media interaction because people were going to do these things anyway, but when you have to buy $50 t-shirts and $60 rings just to "boost" your chances in line and you're *STILL* not guaranteed a ticket even though you have a place in line - easy answer to that is "fuck you". I really hope it does not encourage more of this, I will boycott every time it happens from now on. And WTF is something going to do with 13 copies of her album?

10 votes, 1 pass | Time left: Time expired
	Good Idea
	3 (30%)
	Terrible Idea
	7 (70%)
	1 DU member did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[True Dough]

1. First of all, any scheme involving Ticketmaster makes me cringe

Secondly, Taylor Swift is worth an estimated $280 million, according to Forbes magazine. It's long past time to stop making fans "play games" and do your bidding.

Jeez!

[grossproffit]

2. "Taylor Swift is committed to getting tickets into the hands of fansNOT scalpers or bots."

Link to tweet

[Initech]

4. Yeah but I feel like this isn't going to help curb the bots at all.

I'm also a PC builder, and right now graphics cards are hard to come by because coin miners are using bots and buying them up as fast as retailers can get them in stock. So if they can't stop the bots, how is this going to help?

[awesomerwb1]

3. If you're her and management team

it's a great idea to make more money from the fans.

If you're a fan, not so much.

[ADX]

5. You couldn't pay me enough to go see Taylor Swift...

...in my opinion, she's over-rated, irritating and self-absorbed.

[Initech]

6. I'm not a Taylor Swift fan by any means.

But I think this is setting a bad precedent, just like bands selling $200 bundles to get you to buy their new album. Look I understand you got to make money but things like that are getting over the top ridiculous.

[obamanut2012]

8. She is none of those things

People like different types of music, so that's fine if you don't like her music. But, she is actually NONE of those things.

[ADX]

10. Well, as far as I'm concerned she's ALL of those things but you're entitled to your opinion...

...just as I'm entitled to mine. See how that works?

[Dave Starsky]

15. I actually enjoy her music.

I wouldn't say I'm a "fan", and I don't follow her work that closely, but what I've heard is, IMHO, a light better than 95% of the garbage people call popular music these days.

And you're right: She IS none of these things. I have never heard anything but good things about her and her character. She does a lot of kind things for her fans from all walks of life.

[LanternWaste]

12. I love unintended irony

I love unintended irony. Certainly much more entertaining than many concerts.

[Iggo]

20. That's not really the point, but thanks for the info!

[ADX]

22. My pleasure...

[ProfessorGAC]

27. I Can See Your POV

But, my wife is a fan and i've heard her music. It's less vapid than a lot.

So, IMO, here's a pretty simple A/B:
Listen to 2 songs by her (and listen to the words) and then 2 by Katy Perry.
Then watch 2 videos by each.

I can virtually guarantee you will have an new definition of overrated, irritating and self-absorbed.

[ADX]

29. I followed up on your suggestion...

...and have come to the conclusion that BOTH of them are overrated, irritating and self-absorbed.

That being said though, at least Perry has the temerity to speak out for and support issues I generally happen to agree with, so there's that.

[emulatorloo]

30. Take a listen to Ryan Adam's cover of Swift's "1989" album when you've got some time.

Her album is very synthpop, which put me off.

Ryan Adams does it as a classic rock record: guitars drums and bass.

That opened me up to the quality of her songwriting.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0XuugFoVt9mpuWuDMqOu4mLzkZZvnbUQ

Of course ymmv

[ProfessorGAC]

33. I really can't argue

Ain't my kind of music, but I actively loathe Perry
Swift I merely don't care for

[obamanut2012]

7. Terrific idea -- scalpers get most tix for shows by big artists

And real fans have to make do with no tickets, "nosebleed seats," or pay through the nose.

Swifty is good to her fans, and I wish more artists could do something like this!

[Coventina]

23. Scalpers will game this system as well, count on it. n/t

[Initech]

31. Yup - as soon as you whack a troll, they'll go find a new troll cave.

Ask Stormfront, the Daily Stormer, and Julian Assange how well that's going!

[LP2K12]

9. Sidenote...

I've been to a few concerts this year or purchased tickets for upcoming concerts. Swift isn't the first to take part in this. Imagine Dragons and Linkin Park also required that I enter a "verified fan" program. Buying merchandise such as albums, shirts, etc put me higher on the list.

This is less of the artist making the choice and Ticketmaster running a sham. Tons of complaints on Twitter about this program from various artists.

Terrible idea.

[Initech]

17. I will not participate in this at all.

And Imagine Dragons is a band I'm a huge fan of too. Sucks that they got roped into this scam. And it's really not going to deter the bots at all. If I really want to see a band that badly, I'll take my chances on Stubhub before I would dream of doing something like this.

[workinclasszero]

11. I'd rather listen to a tomcat in heat than Taylor Swift to be honest

[Orrex]

13. This will result in a large number of lonely 40-something men in the front rows

Lonely Starbucks lovers, one might say.

[LanternWaste]

14. Sounds a lot easier and simpler than standing in line for six hours

Sounds a lot easier and simpler than standing in line during a sultry 100 degree Texas afternoon for six hours for headliner concert... which was the norm during my concert-going days.



And selling our places in line to people behind us for $15, $20. sometimes $25 bucks was a great way to take their money as well.

[mulsh]

16. It's all about restricting free markets and making lots of money, isn't it? Acts like her should

only give free concerts, then you wouldn't have scalpers and people jacking up the price of tickets.

That plenty of other acts in the past such as the Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, have done things like ticket lotteries is immaterial. What matters is that this is Taylor Swift who for some reason really pisses off people around my age, 60. She's got some nerve, I think I'll boycott her CDs an concerts. that'll show her.

Besides this is obviously a PR stunt to gin up ticket sales for this tour.



I don't go to any big name act or venue anymore. I can't justify spending money on the high priced tickets and being a retired gigging musician I'd rather spend my money at small venues on acts that need it.

[Initech]

18. There's a difference between making a buck and screwing the fans over.

Making someone buy 13 copies of one album just to get a slight boost in line *IS* screwing the fans over. I get the social media aspect of it, because that doesn't cost anything. But 13 copies of one album I just can't get my head around. If you bought like the CD and the vinyl, I get that, I've done that. But 13 copies? What do you do with those afterward?

[jmowreader]

26. I read the "13 copies" a little different than you do

You know there's some asshole out there who's thinking, "if I buy 100 copies of her album, I'm sure to get a ticket! I'll sell the 100 albums on eBay!" Instead, they're cutting your Album Points off at thirteen copies.

[dembotoz]

19. my fav artist kate bush ran a series of concerts 3 years ago...i would have done anything for a tic

i appreciate the need to slow the bots and tickets to the hands of true fans.
not thrilled with increase score thru merchandise sales perhaps cause my wallet is thin.....

i have seen fan club members getting priority...ok with that....

specific credit card holders getting priority...not so much

hard question

i never did get tickets to see kate bush....between getting the tickets, getting a passport...concerts in england... air fair, lodging etc etc...a bridge too far

[Initech]

21. Yeah I'm OK with fan club members getting priority.

And I've done that too. But I'm not OK with the increased merchandise sales. Or specific credit card holders getting priority. Not cool with that.

[ProfessorGAC]

28. As Much As I Like Her, I Wouldn't Have Gone Through That Either

Flying all the way to the UK for a concert. I couldn't justify the extra money or the time. And i already have a passport!

But, i remember a live concert they ran of her on MTV back in the 80's. Probably had it recorded in Beta. Not that it would make any difference 30+ years later.

Very good show and that was before she did the album with Running Up That Hill, which was even better than the one with Wuthering Heights.

[dembotoz]

32. Have that on vhs somewhere

[ProudLib72]

24. The last time I went to a concert I paid $4 at the door

And it was one of the best damned concerts I've ever been to.

[msongs]

25. the file sharing mob claims artist should get over that loss and earn their livings performing

live shows. voila! wish granted

[WinkyDink]

34. Very bad. Artists shouldn't be about having "castes" or "tiers" of fans. 😠