After The Cure's Robert Smith blasts Ticketmaster fees, partial refunds issued

Singer Robert Smith of the gothic-rock band "The Cure" says fans who bought tickets to the band's upcoming North American tour will receive a partial refund for "unduly high" Ticketmaster fees.

In a series of tweets Thursday, March 16, Smith said the band spoke with Ticketmaster after the tour's "Verified Fan Sale" went live on Wednesday.

Fans lambasted the website on social media over the fees tacked onto their purchase. Some shared screenshots showing the fees they were charged were more than the actual ticket cost.

I am as sickened as you all are by today's Ticketmaster 'fees' debacle. To be very clear: The artist has no way to limit them," Smith tweeted Wednesday. "I have been asking how they are justified. If I get anything coherent by way of an answer I will let you all know."

By Thursday, Smith said Ticketmaster agreed to offer $10 refunds to all verified fan accounts for lowest ticket price transactions and a $5 per ticket to all verified fan accounts for all other transactions.

This comes after the '80s British rock band took deliberate steps to keep ticket prices low and out of the hands of scalpers. A post on the band's Instagram page laid out plans to offer a "very wide range" of pricing at every show and made tickets nontransferable.

Smith said the band was convinced Ticketmaster's "Verified Fan Page" and "Face Value Ticket Exchange" would help ensure more fans got access to tickets. Smith also said the band didn't agree to Ticketmaster's dynamic pricing, price surging, and platinum tickets, calling the feature "a bit of a scam."

Ticketmaster has recently been the target of ire from other fanbases. Fans of Taylor Swift outraged by endless ticket queues for the singer's Eras Tour caught the attention of U.S. lawmakers.

Leaders of LiveNation spoke before the Senate Judiciary Committee after the debacle.