Waltzing to the front of this queue makes you popular once you get inside Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi
Live Nation's chokehold around the gasping throat of the music industry tightened by a finger this week, with the sly announcement of a new promotion called Skip The Line. In a mailout sent earlier this week, the company said: "Effective immediately customers purchasing tickets on livenation.com will be afforded the privilege of entering shows prior to those holding tickets purchased other ticketing services."
So, those who can afford to buy tickets at an inflated price from the biggest secondary-ticketing company around will now actually be prioritised over those who paid for their tickets at face value. Ah, capitalism in action. For now, the promotion is limited to four New York venues, including the famous Roseland Ballroom, but if all goes well then priority line-jumping could be coming to a venue near you. Yet another reason not to go and see Madonna.
