‘Truth in Advertising’ Is Just the Ticket

Re: “Concert Business Awaits the Word on Ticketing Issue” (May 30).

Rather than outlaw exclusive contracts between event promoters and ticket distributors, I’d attack the fee arrangements as misleading advertising. It’s a “truth in advertising” loophole that lets promoters advertise tickets at less than their actual price by splitting out the difference as a separate fee.

As far as actual costs are concerned, I wouldn’t be surprised if economies of scale let the distributors distribute tickets for less than it would cost the promoters to handle their own distribution. So I’d let them make distribution contracts as they will, but require that the price advertised most prominently be the total price the customer must pay.

If a promoter does make non-exclusive deals with several distributors who wish to compete on price, let them advertise discounts from whatever price the most expensive distributor is charging. But don’t let them advertise an artificially low price, only to sock the customer with hidden charges at the time of purchase.

TOM DIGBY

Los Angeles