

Stealing Back the Scalpers’ Playbook with Randy Nichols
Jul 16, 2025
Join Randy Nichols, artist manager and CEO of Force Media Management, as he dives deep into the murky waters of ticketing strategies and scalping. He shares wild tales from scalper chat rooms and even infiltrated a Ticket Scalpers Convention! The conversation also tackles the illusion of the 'super fan' and the evolving landscape of live music, emphasizing the need for transparency and innovative tools to benefit both artists and audiences. Plus, discover how data and technology are reshaping merchandise management and fan engagement.
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Split Health Of Live Music
- Live music's health is uneven: giants and indies coexist with different fortunes.
- Large companies thrive while independents face increasing competitive pressure.
Make Fees Transparent
- Remove hidden fees by factoring them into headline ticket prices to improve fan experience.
- Aim for transparent revenue splits so fans see the true cost and feel less deceived.
Camping Out Sparked Ticketing Scrutiny
- Randy recalls camping out as a teenager to buy tickets and seeing stacks of uncollected tickets behind the counter.
- That early frustration sparked his long-term interest in how ticketing and scalping operate.