Okay, so let's just slash prices in half and give all the money to the artists ;)
EDIT to add: I'm being glib, but only a little - I think the artists, compared with venues and promoters, ought to hold much more power than they currently do. Of course venues should get paid - but are fees the best way?
The artists themselves would have to be on-board with that, and they're not.
Like it or not, many artists believe they need TicketMaster to promote their shows. I think they're wrong, but there needs to be a large culture change for TM to actually get the quick death it deserves.
Part of the reason why it's so expensive is because the artists are getting a percentage of profits on top of a fixed fee per performance. They're absorbing a much lower amount of risk than the promoters are.
Add to that the cultural aspect that artists have a stake in making tickets look artificially inexpensive -- no one wants to see Bruce Springsteen "take advantage" of his fans, but if TM does it, then they take the blow even if a cut goes back to the artist/promoter.
EDIT to add: I'm being glib, but only a little - I think the artists, compared with venues and promoters, ought to hold much more power than they currently do. Of course venues should get paid - but are fees the best way?