Pearl Jam may have tried and failed to break Ticketmaster’s monopoly in the concert industry in 1994, but it might be Tay Swift who succeeds in 2021. After fans were left frustrated by the disastrous ticketing for Swift’s upcoming Eras Tour, Congress is gearing up for another Ticketmaster hearing. The debacle has highlighted the company’s lack of healthy competition, leading to enormous service fees and a race to the bottom. While Ticketmaster can’t be exonerated of all responsibility, the demand for Swift’s tickets was unparalleled and any ticketing agency would have faced immense struggle. Despite the mega-conglomerates dominating the industry, it’s the middle-class artists that are really feeling the squeeze, struggling to survive on the harsh realities of the modern music industry. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
