Ticketmaster's parent company IAC (blue) vs. SP500 (red):

Internet technology is loosening Ticketmaster's tight grip on the lucrative live concert and sporting event scene. The Net is shaking up the ticketing market by giving artists and venues a way to sell tickets directly to fans. And it is fueling the rise of a resale market by giving buyers and sellers a safe place to connect with one another more easily and cheaply.

As the rules of the game change, talent and event managers sense a chance to seize back some control. Sports teams are trying to assert more say over the way tickets are sold. And venues and concert promoters are rethinking their relationships with ticket sellers.





"Consumers don't like Ticketmaster's fat service charge, and they are pissed off."