Ticketmaster has faced technical issues and long queues during the sale of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour tickets in France. Fans attempting to purchase tickets for six concerts in May and June 2024, including four shows in Paris and two in Lyon, were met with a massive queue on Ticketmaster’s website, with one screenshot showing over a million customers ahead in line. Ticketmaster later announced that sales for these shows had been paused, without providing an explanation. The company stated that a new on-sale time would be announced and assured fans that unused codes would remain valid. However, fans reported encountering technical errors on the website, such as a progress icon continuously spinning. Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, have not yet responded to requests for comment.
This incident in France mirrors the problems experienced during Swift’s North American presale in November, where Ticketmaster’s systems were overwhelmed by millions of fans and bots. Fans encountered issues such as tickets disappearing from their shopping carts before they could complete the purchase. As a result, Ticketmaster shut down the public sale, although they claimed to have sold over two million tickets in a single day.
These recurring problems, along with concerns over Ticketmaster and Live Nation’s market dominance, led to a Senate Judiciary hearing in January. Senators from both parties criticized Ticketmaster, calling it a monopoly, and expressed skepticism towards the company’s explanation for its inability to defend against bot attacks during Swift’s presale. Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee questioned why Ticketmaster had not developed an algorithm to differentiate between bots and consumers.
Despite these challenges, the demand for Taylor Swift tickets remains high, with her concerts consistently selling out and tickets fetching thousands of dollars on the secondary market. Swift is set to complete the North American leg of her tour next month before heading to Latin America, Asia, and Europe.
In addition to these issues, the Justice Department is conducting an antitrust investigation into Live Nation, although it has not been officially confirmed. Live Nation’s CEO, Michael Rapino, has openly discussed the investigation.
What were the technical glitches and long queues that fans faced when trying to purchase tickets for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in France?
Ticketmaster Faces Technical Issues and Long Queues for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Tickets in France
Fans eagerly attempting to purchase tickets for Taylor Swift’s upcoming Eras Tour in France were met with frustration as Ticketmaster encountered technical glitches and long queues. The sale, which included six concerts in May and June 2024, with four shows in Paris and two in Lyon, had fans waiting in a massive queue on Ticketmaster’s website. Screenshots revealed over a million customers ahead in line. Eventually, Ticketmaster announced a pause in sales for these shows, leaving fans without an explanation. While the company stated that a new on-sale time would be announced and that unused codes would remain valid, fans endured further frustration due to continuous technical errors, such as a spinning progress icon on the website. As of now, Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, have not responded to requests for comment.
This incident in France is reminiscent of the problems encountered during Taylor Swift’s North American presale in November. Ticketmaster’s systems were overwhelmed by millions of eager fans and bots, resulting in issues like tickets disappearing from fans’ shopping carts before they could complete the purchase. In response, Ticketmaster shut down the public sale, although they claimed to have sold over two million tickets in a single day.
Due to these recurring issues and concerns about Ticketmaster and Live Nation’s market dominance, a Senate Judiciary hearing took place in January. Senators from both parties criticized Ticketmaster, labeling it as a monopoly, and expressing skepticism towards the company’s explanation of their inability to defend against bot attacks during Swift’s presale. Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee inquired why Ticketmaster had not developed an algorithm to differentiate between bots and genuine consumers.
Despite these challenges, the demand for Taylor Swift tickets remains extraordinarily high. Her concerts consistently sell out, with tickets fetching thousands of dollars on the secondary market. Swift is expected to wrap up the North American leg of her tour next month before embarking on shows in Latin America, Asia, and Europe.
In addition to these issues, there are rumors of a Justice Department investigation into Live Nation for possible antitrust violations. The CEO of Live Nation, Michael Rapino, has openly discussed the investigation, although it has not been officially confirmed.
It’s disappointing to see Ticketmaster face technical issues and delays during the ticket sale for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in France. Fans eagerly awaited this opportunity, and it’s unfortunate that they had to experience such frustrations. Ticketmaster should strive to provide a seamless ticket buying experience for its customers to avoid further disappointments in the future.
It’s unfortunate that Ticketmaster faced technical issues during the sale of Taylor Swift’s tour tickets in France. Hopefully, they can resolve these issues quickly and ensure a smoother experience for fans in the future.