{
  "id": 18087585,
  "title": "Australian Consumer Advocacy Group Blasts Ticketing Giants for ‘Fleecing Fans’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/australian-consumer-advocacy-group-blasts-ticketing-giants-for",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-04T07:08:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Billboard",
    "slug": "billboard",
    "url": "https://www.billboard.com/pro/australia-choice-ticketek-ticketmaster-shonky-awards/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ticketek and Ticketmaster have been named the recipients of the 2026 Shonky Awards by consumer advocacy group Choice, a dubious accolade bestowed upon businesses deemed to provide some of the nation's worst products and services. The ticketing companies were criticized for \"fleecing fans\" and \"gouging consumers during a cost-of-living crisis,\" according to Choice CEO Monique Perry. Choice highlighted a number of sneaky tactics used by the companies, including dynamic pricing and \"in demand\" tickets, which they said have pushed ticket prices for live events to \"ridiculous new heights.\" One example provided by Choice detailed how fans of John Farnham were faced with inflated prices of up to A$1,650 when trying to secure tickets to a tribute concert. Ticketek and Ticketmaster responded to the criticism, stating that ticket prices are set by event organizers, not by the ticketing companies themselves. They also claimed that their \"in demand tickets\" are priced \"closer to market value\" and do not automatically increase in response to real-time demand. Ticketek further clarified that the premium ticket, Ultimate, priced at A$1,650, was not affected by dynamic pricing and only affected around 3.7% of tickets for the event, while 92% of tickets sold remained at their original, unchanged fixed price.",
  "summary": "Reps for Ticketmaster and Ticketek have responded.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}