Bots Hit Raye, Sam Fender and Garth Brooks Ticket Sales as AI Arms Race Escalates

Thematic editorial illustration for Bella Figura Founder Alexi Cory-Smith Dies at 58

Automated bots disrupted ticketing operations tied to Raye, Sam Fender and Garth Brooks in October, overwhelming a presale sign-up process, a virtual queue and a ticketing platform. The incidents highlight how bot operators are deploying increasingly sophisticated tools to bypass fan-verification systems and scoop up inventory for resale.

The disruptions have renewed pressure on lawmakers and ticketing platforms to address bot-driven scalping, with policymakers now weighing new measures to curb automated purchasing. The episodes underscore an escalating technological standoff between ticketing companies building anti-bot defenses and bad actors finding new ways around them.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.