Ticketbattle! – The Ticketmaster, AEG Deathmatch

AEG has joined forces with OutBox to take over ticketing at its105 arenas and theaters. This positions the company as a direct rival of Livenation's Ticketmaster.

But according to Andrew Dreskin, CEO of Ticketfly, this is mark of growth that will drive competition and lower ticket prices for fans. In a statement to Hypebot, Dreskin expressed concern that, "Concert ticket prices and service fees for the largest acts have gotten out of control."

Back in 1996, the average price of a concert ticket for one of the top 100 tours was $25.81. "Today," he notes, "that same ticket costs fans $61.74, far outstripping inflation." In recent years, the service fee for these tours have been off the charts. And the byproduct of this is that fans are going to fewer shows.

Ticketfly, who Hypebot has spoken to in the past, is glad to see AEG join the large ticketing fray. "This should spark competition and ultimately be a good thing for the ticket buyer," Dreskin continued. "But, at the end of the day, we also believe that the market wants an independent ticketing solution, not one that competes with its clients in the business of concert promotion."

In the digital age, event promoters aren't in need yet another ticketing inventory management system. Instead, what they need is a more integrated platform – that handles ticketing, social marketing and website management all in one.

Right now, Dreskin concedes that it's unclear whether AEG joining the ticketing fray will be exactly what the live music business needed or "just more of the same." If AEG's move helps bring down fees and ticket prices, this could be a good thing. But turning the dwindling live music business around won't be easy.