Colorado jam band takes on the giant Ticketmaster

Ticketmaster, the concert-ticketing giant accused last month of antitrust violations, has countersued the String Cheese Incident, contending that the Colorado jam band's practice of selling seats directly to fans interferes with Ticketmaster's contracts with venues. In papers filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Denver, Ticketmaster denied the band's claim that it exploited a monopoly position in the industry to keep the String Cheese Incident from offering its fans tickets with discounted surcharges. Additionally, the Los Angeles-based service accused the band's ticketing company of improperly costing Ticketmaster business and damaging its name. The String Cheese Incident's August suit takes on Ticketmaster's decision to limit the number of tickets, known as "holds," that a band can give or sell directly to its fans. The String Cheese Incident suit contends that Ticketmaster, which has exclusive contracts with most major U.S. venues, charges exorbitant ticket fees and uses its clout with venues to deprive the band of an important way to reward its fans, said Neil Glazer, a Philadelphia lawyer who represents the band. At a recent String Cheese show in San Francisco, SCI charged a $4 service fee per $32.50 ticket, the group's suit contends. In comparison, it says, Ticketmaster added $7.55 to the face price. Where SCI charged $6.95 for second-day UPS delivery, Ticketmaster charged $19.50 for the same service, according to the suit. In May, Ticketmaster wrote to promoters and concert halls, saying it would no longer provide the numbers of tickets it had in the past to ticketers such as SCI - only to fan clubs that charged at least $15 per year to its members, the band alleges. While the String Cheese Incident previously gained control of as much as 50 percent of a hall's tickets, Ticketmaster announced it would no longer free up more than 8 percent. The decision affected more than the Colorado band, which also encourages taping at its concerts. Its ticketing company handles sales for other acts, such as King Crimson. When Clear Channel, the country's largest promoter and venue-owner, informed King Crimson it would not allow SCI to sell any tickets for its spring 2003 tour, it cited pressure from Ticketmaster, the String Cheese suit contended.

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