Ticketmaster quietly unveiled a treat for tribute band fans on Tuesday, dispensing millions of dollars of free ticket vouchers to customers as part of a class action lawsuit settlement.
Excitement over the settlement quickly dissolved as people learned that the true value of the payout is dependent on a person’s tastes and geography.
Live in Chicago or Seattle? As of Wednesday afternoon, the vouchers could not be used at any shows in those cities. Are you a fan of Dolly Parton or Gwen Stefani? Hopefully you live close to Chula Vista, California, or Raleigh, North Carolina. Tech website the Verge described the deal as a “garbage fire legal settlement”.
These Ticketmaster vouchers are like finding money in your couch cushions, then realizing it's foreign currency from a failed state.
— Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) June 22, 2016
One day my grandkids will ask how I spent my youth.
— Zoe Camp (@jzcamp) June 19, 2016
"Well, sonny, I followed @pitbull around the country, thanks to a ticketmaster lawsuit"
The offerings were particularly dismal for some of the country’s most populated cities – New York City’s 8.4 million citizens must travel out of state to use the vouchers unless they want to see act such as a tribute band to Guns N’ Roses, 80s heavy metal group Queensryche or Norwegian electronic duo Lemaitre.
the shows you can attend with ticketmaster vouchers are perfect if you're a 37-year-old who lives in his van
— Marisa Kabas (@MarisaKabas) June 22, 2016
The vouchers were made available as part of a settlement in a class action lawsuit with customers who purchased tickets between 21 October 1999 and 27 February 2013. For each ticket purchased in that period, customers can get one voucher, up to 17 vouchers. Some people are also eligible for $5 or $2.25 discounts on future purchases (to see if you’re one of these people, log in to Ticketmaster, and select the “Active Vouchers” section).
Use of these vouchers is first come, first served. So even though Ticketmaster said that the vouchers expire in 2020, ticket availability is actually dependent on how many other people use the discounts and vouchers before then.
The problem with these Ticketmaster vouchers is that I almost talked myself into getting tix to see the Goo Goo Dolls in Sarasota Springs.
— Louis Peitzman (@LouisPeitzman) June 22, 2016
While the listings seem dismal, there are some good gigs nestled between lounge singers and 90s-themed dance parties, such as Dead Kennedys in Philadelphia next week, Flight of the Conchords in Atlanta, Modest Mouse in Chula Vista, California, and Dolly Parton in Mountain View, California.
Then, of course, there are the offerings for tribute band enthusiasts – vouchers can be used across the country for tributes to: Fleetwood Mac, Metallica, the Doors, Journey, Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, REM, Stone Temple Pilots, the Rolling Stones, Kid Rock, Elton John, Van Halen, Guns N’ Roses, Led Zeppelin, Billy Joel, Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath.
The list will be updated through the terms of the settlement, and people can subscribe here to get updates when new shows are posted.
Ticketmaster tried to give some wack concerts as part of their settlement deal but didn't know I'm Seal's biggest fan so who's laughing now?
— Jozen C. (@jozenc) June 21, 2016
