How The Cure's Robert Smith secured a refund for fans after Ticketmaster "fees debacle"

3 September 2024, 12:02 | Updated: 3 September 2024, 12:06

The Cure frontman was praised for standing up against ticket fees. Picture: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images

By Radio X

In 2023, The Cure frontman was widely praised for taking a stand against excessive ticket booking fees for the band's North American tour dates. Here's what happened.

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With Ticketmaster coming under fire over the dynamic pricing of Oasis reunion tickets, fans are recalling the stance taken by Cure frontman Robert Smith last year.

The musician managed to secure a partial refund for tickets to The Cure's North American shows after fans complained of excessive fees on top of the face value cost.

Smith vowed that the band would try and keep tickets at an affordable price, but was shocked to see fans were being charged a service fee, facility charge and order processing fee, which exceeded the price of some of their tickets.

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Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Boys Don't Cry singer shared an update, which explained: "After further conversation, Ticketmaster have agreed with us that many of the fees being charged are unduly high, and us a gesture of goodwill have offered a $10 per ticket refund to all verified fan accounts for lowest ticket price ('LTP') transactions..."

1 OF 2: AFTER FURTHER CONVERSATION, TICKETMASTER HAVE AGREED WITH US THAT MANY OF THE FEES BEING CHARGED ARE UNDULY HIGH, AND AS A GESTURE OF GOODWILL HAVE OFFERED A $10 PER TICKET REFUND TO ALL VERIFIED FAN ACCOUNTS FOR LOWEST TICKET PRICE ('LTP’) TRANSACTIONS...
— ROBERT SMITH (@RobertSmith) March 16, 2023

He added: "And a $5 ticket refund to all verified dan accounts for all other ticket price transactions, for all Cure shows at all venues; if you already bought a ticket you will get an automatic refund; All tickets on sale tomorrow will incur lower fees."

2 OF 2: ...AND A $5 PER TICKET REFUND TO ALL VERIFIED FAN ACCOUNTS FOR ALL OTHER TICKET PRICE TRANSACTIONS, FOR ALL CURE SHOWS AT ALL VENUES; IF YOU ALREADY BOUGHT A TICKET YOU WILL GET AN AUTOMATIC REFUND; ALL TICKETS ON SALE TOMORROW WILL INCUR LOWER FEES
— ROBERT SMITH (@RobertSmith) March 16, 2023

Smith's actions were brought to light again this week, following controversy over the prices of tickets for Oasis' forthcoming 2025 reunion dates. Many fans were shocked to discover tickets were subject to "surge" pricing, with tickets with an original face value of £148 being sold for over £350.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy called the selling of Oasis tickets with "surge pricing" as "depressing" as she said sthe practice would be included in a government review of the secondary sales market.

That feeling when you wait in a queue for four hours only to be told the price of the ticket has risen from £148 to... £355??? Because they're 'in demand'. How is this not illegal? @Ticketmaster @TicketmasterUK @oasis #Oasis #Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/jdmXWUkuBz
— Helen Barnett (@HelenFBarnett) August 31, 2024

Meanwhile, Ticketmaster's fan-to-fan resale site Twickets have announced they will lower their booking fees for any tickets sold for the Oasis reunion tour.

The general sale took place for the coveted 2025 dates on Saturday (31st August), with fans shocked to find that many tickets had already been re-listed on secondary selling sites for thousands of pounds.

Oasis maintained that tickets could only be resold through Ticketmaster and their official resale partner for the event, Twickets.

However, this week saw many shocked to find that although Twickets were enabling fans to buy tickets at face value, the fees were quite large.

Now the company - who describe themselves as "the UK's largest fan-to-fan ticket resale site" have announced their plans to lower their fees for the reunion dates as well as introduce a fee cap per ticket for the tour.

I AM AS SICKENED AS YOU ALL ARE BY TODAY'S TICKETMASTER 'FEES' DEBACLE. TO BE VERY CLEAR: THE ARTIST HAS NO WAY TO LIMIT THEM. I HAVE BEEN ASKING HOW THEY ARE JUSTIFIED. IF I GET ANYTHING COHERENT BY WAY OF AN ANSWER I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW. X
— ROBERT SMITH (@RobertSmith) March 16, 2023

Robert Smith had previously taken to X, to say he was "sickened" by the ticket operator's move and assured fans he was having discussions with them.

On 16th March 2023 he wrote: "I am as sickened as you all are by today's Ticketmaster 'fees' debacle. To Be very clear: The artist has no way to limit them. I have been asking how they are justified. If I get anything coherent by way of an answer I will let you all know."

The Cure frontman has been praised for his actions, with many calling him a "legend" and an "absolute hero".

Fan account The Cure Forever wrote: "Thank you for taking a stand for the fans. Fair is Fair! Here's hoping more artists follow in your footsteps. This instance might be a single starlight, but remember, you can fill up the sky! You don't have to give in!"

THANK YOU FOR TAKING A STAND FOR THE FANS. FAIR IS FAIR! HERE'S HOPING MORE ARTISTS FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS. THIS INSTANCE MIGHT BE A SINGLE STARLIGHT, BUT REMEMBER, YOU CAN FILL UP THE SKY! YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE IN!
— THE CURE FOREVER (@TheCureForever_) March 17, 2023

Alberto Marchena Jr. wrote: "You got my absolute respect. The first one to do it. My total admiration".

You got my absolute respect. The first one to do it. My total admiration.
— Alberto Marchena Jr. (@marchenajr) March 16, 2023

Political editor Adam Payne simply wrote: "An absolute hero."

An absolute hero.
— Adam Payne (@adampayne26) March 17, 2023

The Cure's shows, which kicked off in New Orleans on 10th May 2023, included three nights each at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl and New York's Madison Square Garden.