Ticketfly still down (ransom demand??); Music Venues & Bands feeling the pain
Online ticketing service Ticketfly is still down, more than 24 hours since announcing they were the “target of a cyber incident.” It’s staying down as they investigate, and they “don’t have a specific timeline to share right now. We deeply regret the inconvenience caused by this incident and are working around the clock to resolve the issue and get all Ticketfly systems back up and running.” Read more from their “Cyber Incident Update” page.
As to what this “cyber incident” is, an article on Hypebot points to clues that Ticketfly.com could be being held for ransom by hackers:
Code left on the Ticketfly site points to the hacker group IsHaKdZ, who appears to be demanding a ransom Along with a yandex.com email address, the hackers left this message:
…Ticketfly HacKeD By IsHaKdZ. Your Security Down im Not Sorry. Next time I will publish database “backstage.”…
Hackers generally only leave an email address and make threats about ‘next time’ when they are demanding a ransom to release the site
We’ll hold off fully believing that one until we hear more, but probably a plausible theory?
In addition to inconveniencing people trying to buy tickets, it also majorly affects venue using Ticketfly. Venues who use Ticketfly have websites that are often built/run on Ticketfly software so their show calendars and email lists, and in some cases the entire sites, are down, too.
Some venues, like Brooklyn Bowl here in NYC, are using Eventbrite (which recently purchased Ticketfly) as a workaround:
Tix for this weekends shows now available via @Eventbrite:
6/1 @deadphishorch: https://t.co/G8MaRiQILW
6/2 @kungfutunes: https://t.co/0kAo2FC547
6/2 @missmargoprice: https://t.co/LtDqMNGZl3
6/3 @RRPHKIDS: https://t.co/fgX8rBQtsf
6/3 @wolfalicemusic: https://t.co/PmwjlBYU9g pic.twitter.com/hjRVxZnbap— Brooklyn Bowl (@brooklynbowl) June 1, 2018
Some venues, like Port Chester’s Capitol Theatre, are pushing today’s on-sales (like for their Social Distortion show) to next week. Others are telling customers they can buy at the door (a very Trent Reznor workaround.)
Florence & the Machine pushed back their DC show on sale date:
Due to Ticketfly being offline, tickets for the Washington DC show on Oct 5 at The Anthem will now go on sale next Friday, June 8th at 10am.
— florence welch (@florencemachine) June 1, 2018
Warped Tour also affected:
If you have tried to buy a ticket for @VansWarpedTour Columbia MD or Nashville today, Ticketfly is down the shows will still happen we will let you know when the service is back up. In Nashville you can go to Grimeys Record Store who has hard tickets.
— Kevin Lyman (@KevinLyman) May 31, 2018
Many bands have been reminding fans that their shows are not sold out and that tickets will be available at the door:
Ticketfly is down currently, so the remainder of tickets for our show in Toronto will be avail at the door at Velvet Underground. See u all there. 🌟
— CITIZEN (@CitizenMi) May 31, 2018
Other NYC-area venues that use Ticketfly include Bowery Ballroom, The Bell House, Baby’s All Right, White Eagle Hall, Littlefield, Union Hall, Union Pool, St. Vitus, Mercury Lounge, and Alphaville. You can read Twitter updates many of them, plus ACL Live in Austin and more, below.
Thanks for your patience today! Due to an isssue with Ticketfly, tickets to @SocialD1 at The Cap on WED, OCT 3 will now go on sale FRI, JUN 8 at 10AM. Hang tight, music lovers! pic.twitter.com/aw3mXugefI
— The Capitol Theatre 🐿 (@capitoltheatre) June 1, 2018
UPDATE: Ticketfly is still currently down, so the remainder of tickets for tomorrow’s show with @tommyhamilton and @hollyjbowling will be available at the door. See you all there! 🌹⚡️ pic.twitter.com/Webjr1DnZF
— The Capitol Theatre 🐿 (@capitoltheatre) May 31, 2018
Our website is currently down due to a Ticketfly issue. They're currently working on getting it resolved. Sorry for any inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/vqioH9roSz
— The Capitol Theatre 🐿 (@capitoltheatre) May 31, 2018
~+ unfortunately @ticketfly is currently down – hoping to be back up and running soon! +~ https://t.co/e6b1NKZrtI
— Baby's All Right (@BabysAllRight) May 31, 2018
Hey folks, our e-ticketing is currently down. Anyone who wants to buy advance tickets to our shows, we do sell tickets at the bar and we open at six! We'll let you know when our site comes back online.
— saint vitus (@saintvitusbar) May 31, 2018
Ticketfly and our website are currently down but you can still purchase tickets to @KaijuBigBattel on Sun 06/03. Just reach out to 718-369-3310 ex.16 with your credit card info ready! pic.twitter.com/kDzyVebsX0
— The Bell House (@BellHouseNY) May 31, 2018
Update from @ticketfly: They were the target of a cyber attack and as a result have pulled all systems offline – this includes our website as well as @UnionHallNY. Shows will continue as scheduled and tickets (if available) will be for sale at the door. https://t.co/X135G6eEXq
— The Bell House (@BellHouseNY) May 31, 2018
You may have noticed our Ticketfly powered websites are down this morning. Ticketfly ticketing is also down at this time. Please see the statement from Ticketfly below. We will update you when we have more information. pic.twitter.com/9R1PtfqePM
— Jam Productions (@JamUSA) May 31, 2018
Hey all, you may have noticed that our ticketing is down right now while Ticketfly deals with a cyber attack (who the fuck steals the info of a ticketing service that works with small-to-mid-sized venues?!?). All shows will have door tickets. Guaranteed.
— saint vitus (@saintvitusbar) June 1, 2018
Also if you know anyone that works at @ticketfly, buy 'em a beer or a dessert or feed them or something this weekend. Those guys have always treated us really well.
— saint vitus (@saintvitusbar) June 1, 2018
Today is the first day that anyone has ever said "Thank God I'm on Ticketweb."
— Ric Leichtung (@ricleichtung) May 31, 2018
*TICKETING UPDATE*
While Ticketfly is still down, head over to our Facebook events for tickets to all of our shows on sale this week!
-7/7 @thesonsandheirs
-9/30 @MiniatureTigers
-12/14 @cityofthesunhttps://t.co/jJOLFqH5b6— Bowery Ballroom (@boweryballroom) June 1, 2018
*TICKETING UPDATE*
While Ticketfly is still down, head over to our Facebook events for tickets to all of our shows on sale this week!https://t.co/c4My85LFyD— Mercury Lounge (@MercuryLoungeNY) June 1, 2018
Hey everyone! Thanks for your patience. Our website (and all @ticketfly affiliated websites) are still down but don't despair. Our shows will still go on as planned and tickets will be available at the door. Shoot us an email at [email protected] with any questions!
— littlefield (@littlefieldnyc) June 1, 2018
🔔PSA🔔
For anyone interested in grabbing single-show tickets, @ticketfly is currently down! Their team is hoping to have it working soon – we'll let you know when it's up and running again.
Until then! You can always buy a music badge here: https://t.co/lYwy3MV1Lg pic.twitter.com/hAHZu1iJhF— Northside Festival (@NorthsideFest) June 1, 2018
Please note, for the upcoming #CelebrateBrooklyn benefit shows, our ticketing platform Ticketfly is currently experiencing technical issues. Please call 877-987-6487 if you would like to purchase tickets or have any questions. We'll update you when things are back to normal!
— BRIC Celebrate BK! (@BRICcelebrateBK) June 1, 2018