Just as Uber doesn't provide transport, Ticketmaster doesn't sell tickets. They characterize themselves a broker, someone facilitating sales between "Event Providers" and customers. They will pass the responsibility to concert organizers.
A lawyer would describe most "Event Providers" as judgment proof, ie too poor to be worth a lawsuit. These aren't the rockstars nor their touring companies. The event provider is the local organization who rents the venue and manages the individual concert. They are all currently shut down, employees laid off, and are likely talking to bankruptcy experts.
For example: Vancouver just cancelled its jazz festival. That festival's "event organizer" is the "Coastal Jazz & Blues Society" ... a listed non-profit. There is no blood in that stone.
Yes, I just shared this tidbit as I thought it might be helpful.
For most people, chargebacks are probably the best recourse. I've already initiated one for a festival I was supposed to attend later this spring which was cancelled outright with no refunds offered.
Also IANAL, but its my understanding (at least under common law here in Canada) that the doctrine of privity of contract should apply here. Since the ticket purchaser only has a contract with Ticketmaster/Live Nation they should not be able to sue the 3rd party event provider, and rather are only left with the option to sue Live Nation.
They are on top of that. The purchaser does agree a contract with Ticketmaster as outlined in the "Terms of Use". It even has a Who You are Buying From section. So there are at least two contracts. One with the broker to provide the tickets, and another between the organizer and the customers as embodied in the "admit one" physical/electronic ticket. A Canadian court isn't going to destroy one agreed contract and ball it up under another.
"Who You Are Buying From:
Ticketmaster acts as the agent to those who provide events, such as venues, teams, artist representatives and fan clubs, promoters and leagues ("Event Providers"). We generally sell tickets on behalf of our clients including artists, teams, venues, and promoters, though in some rare instances we may own a small number of tickets as part of our services contract with the individual client."
This is true is some circumstances but isn't universally true. Ticketmaster is part of Live Nation which both owns venues and runs tours including those in California.
Try suing Live Nation. Each tour will be spun up as a separate production, a standalone legal entity, specifically to limit such liability. Same goes with the artists, who don't work for Live Nation but rather provide their services via their own personal services companies.
A lawyer would describe most "Event Providers" as judgment proof, ie too poor to be worth a lawsuit. These aren't the rockstars nor their touring companies. The event provider is the local organization who rents the venue and manages the individual concert. They are all currently shut down, employees laid off, and are likely talking to bankruptcy experts.
For example: Vancouver just cancelled its jazz festival. That festival's "event organizer" is the "Coastal Jazz & Blues Society" ... a listed non-profit. There is no blood in that stone.