Junk Fees Are Hurting Our Scene — Here’s How to Fight Back
by Unmixed
StubHub’s been caught. Again.
This time, it’s for hiding shady “junk fees” from ticket buyers — and while mainstream media frames it as a consumer issue, let’s be honest: it hits the underground the hardest.
StubHub’s model of “drip pricing” — advertising one price, then tacking on surprise fees at checkout — isn’t just annoying. It actively pushes people out of our spaces. For independent shows where every dollar matters, these practices are predatory.
Most of us know the real parties happen off-platform — tickets sold via Resident Advisor, Eventbrite, and until recently, DICE. These are tools we trust, built with artists and communities in mind.
But StubHub and other massive platforms still dominate resale markets, even for niche and underground-adjacent shows. And they’ve built a legacy on misleading pricing, “fee foo fo’s,” and manipulative countdowns designed to force a quick purchase.
The fees aren’t subtle either — some buyers report paying up to 40% more than the listed ticket price. And it’s not theoretical:
— Governors Ball tickets are currently being resold on StubHub well above face value — before fees.
— This Friday’s OMNOM Open Air w/ Jackie Hollander (presented by Gray Area) is up there too — same story.
— Even Stavroz at Elsewhere, a booking beloved in the indie dance scene, is listed — and yes, the drip fees are alive and well.
StubHub has already been hit with legal action: a $20 million class-action settlement in California. Now, a new case is building, and lawyers are looking for people — especially in New York and California — who’ve been impacted by these pricing tactics.
This isn’t just about a refund — it’s about protecting access.
It’s about calling out platforms that profit off our culture while doing nothing to support it.
🎯 Check if you qualify here
🎯 StubHub Settlement — claim your payout if eligible
Stay alert. If you’re buying tickets this summer — whether it’s a rave at Elsewhere or a sunrise set in a warehouse — watch where your money goes. The fees are still dripping.
The underground isn’t just music. It’s community. It’s resistance.
And we have every right to protect it.
