Nine Inch Nails take on scalpers with fan club, auctions

August 5, 2005 01:08 PM
Industrial rockers Nine Inch Nails hope to keep tickets for their North American fall tour out of the hands of scalpers by implementing a two-prong ticketing program for some of the best seats to each show.

The first part of the band's plan involves its recently launched fan club, which has been holding online ticket presales. Members who purchase tickets from the club have to pick them up 30 minutes before doors open in each city, and will be "immediately escorted into the venue," according to Interscope Records.

No other advance ticket programs--such as those frequently offered by venues, radio stations, email lists and sponsors--were offered, according to the label.

"We've put extra effort into developing this program as an effective way to ensure that Nine Inch Nails fans get into the show with the best possible tickets," NIN leader Trent Reznor said in a statement. "The only complaints will be from scalpers and those who want to put our true fans at a disadvantage."

The fan club controls 10 percent of the tickets for each show, according to details posted at NIN's website. More information about the club is available at the site.

Part two of the band's anti-scalper crusade is a series of online ticket auctions offered via Ticketmaster. Starting Monday (8/8) at noon local time, fans can log on to the auction's website to bid on premium tickets for NIN shows at 19 venues throughout the U.S. and Canada. Auctions for additional shows will launch on Aug. 22. (Ticketmaster is liveDaily's parent company.)

All auction proceeds above the face value of the tickets will be directed to The Innocence Project, a non-profit organization that provides post-conviction DNA testing to yield conclusive proof of innocence, according to a press release.

"We know we cannot stop all ticket reselling, but if we can redirect some of that unauthorized margin to a good cause like the Innocence Project, it makes me feel like we have done something worthwhile," Reznor said.

Nine Inch Nails will kick off their North American arena tour Sept. 16 in San Diego. Tickets for a number of shows--including a handful of just-added November stops in Canada--will hit the box office Saturday (8/6). Details are included below.

In May, NIN issued "With Teeth," its first new studio set since 1999's "The Fragile." The new album debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"With Teeth" features the singles "The Hand That Feeds" and "Only," the music videos for which are posted at NIN's website.

[Note: The following tour dates have been provided by artist and/or tour sources, who verify its accuracy as of the publication time of this story. Changes may occur before tickets go on sale. Check with official artist websites, ticketing sources and venues for late updates.]
 tour dates and tickets
September 2005
16 - San Diego, CA - Cox Arena
17 - Tucson, AZ - Tucson Convention Center
19 - Phoenix, AZ - America West Arena
20 - Fresno, CA - Selland Arena
23 - Seattle, WA - KeyArena at Seattle Center
24 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden Arena
26 - Vancouver, British Columbia - PNE / Pacific Coliseum
28 - Sacramento, CA - ARCO Arena
30 - Oakland, CA - Oakland Arena

October 2005
1 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
4 - West Valley City, UT - E Center (on sale 8/20)
5 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
7 - Rosemont, IL - Allstate Arena
8 - Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena
9 - Cleveland, OH - Gund Arena
11 - Saint Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
13 - Madison, WI - Alliant Energy Center (on sale 8/20)
14 - Saint Louis, MO - Savvis Center
16 - San Antonio, TX - SBC Center
17 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
19 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
21 - Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville Veterans Mem. Arena
22 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
24 - Sunrise, FL - Office Depot Center
25 - Orlando, FL - TD Waterhouse Centre
27 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
29 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans City Park (Voodoo Music Experience)
31 - Nashville, TN - Gaylord Entertainment Center (on sale 9/10)

November 2005
2 - Washington, DC - MCI Center
3 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
5 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Spectrum
8 - Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Garden (on sale 9/10)
10 - Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre (on sale 8/5)
11 - Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre (on sale 8/6)
14 - Winnipeg, Manitoba - MTS Centre (on sale 8/6)
16 - Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place (on sale 8/6)
17 - Calgary, Alberta - Pengrowth Saddledome (on sale 8/6)

 tour dates and tickets

LiveDaily Weekend: Green Day, Madonna, Neil Diamond and more

This week's edition features music, tour and ticketing news about Green Day, Montgomery Gentry, Stevie Wonder, Weird Al Yankovic, My... continued
Listen now:
 

LiveDaily Song of the Day: Joan As Police Woman - "To Be Loved"

Today's Song of the Day is by Joan As Police Woman. The featured cut is "To Be Loved," which appears... continued
Listen now:

Send us your comments, suggestions and news tips