The music industry is always looking for ways to defeat people taking money from its pockets. The battle against illegal downloading is well documented, but what of that age-old conflict with ticket scalpers, which never seems to die down. Tom Waits’ Glitter and Doom tour, which rattled through an oddball selection of U.S. cities earlier this summer, was a litmus test for Ticketmaster’s new paperless ticketing system.

Waits’ fans who showed up to the Glitter and Doom tour had to book entry to the show with a credit card, either by phone or online. They then had to present the card and a photo ID on the day of the show, thus gaining entry to the venue. It sounds identical to the “will call” system that ticket companies have been practicing for years, and the system isn’t without its problems.

According to Waits’ booking agent Stuart Ross, the paperless process caused long lines at the venues, meaning performances had to be delayed. It also meant people without a credit card couldn’t attend the shows. But the big question is: does this mean a reduction in Ticketmaster’s exorbitant fees, which seem to grow inexplicably higher with every ticket purchase? The answer is no, although the relatively new Brown Paper Tickets service is offering salvation by seeking to significantly reduce such practices. [Reuters]