Call for Probe of Ticket Sales

Bruce Springsteen fans were victims of a classic bait and switch scam by the nations largest concert ticket seller, Senator Charles Schumer said yesterday, as he called for a federal investigation into the company, Ticketmaster. Schumer wants the Federal Trade Commission to look into whether the Ticketmaster website withheld the best tickets from the public and then shuttled fans to TicketsNow, a fully owned subsidiary. TicketsNow had the best seats available immediatelyat sky-high pricesafter Springsteen tickets went on sales at 10 A.M. on February 2.

A federal investigation would look into whether Ticketmaster was instantly scalping the tickets, never giving fans a chance to buy them at face value, Schumer said. Customers who tried to buy tickets originally priced at $95 on Ticketmasters website were directed to TicketsNow where they were priced at more than $2,000.

Since buying TicketsNow in February, Ticketmaster has faced similar criticism for its handling of Elton John tickets in Canada and numerous U.S. concert tours, including Radiohead. Law enforcement agencies in Connecticut and New Jersey have also launched investigations.

a. During the course of an audit, do you believe that the auditor should look into how revenues are being generated? Do you think the auditors should have looked at the business practices of Ticketmaster?

b. Assume that Ticketmaster had properly accounted for the revenue it received from the Springsteen concert. Should the auditors have asked Ticketmaster to make adjustments or disclosures regarding its sales practices?

c. Should Ticketmaster disclose the investigations being conducted in Connecticut and New Jersey?