Feds: Live Nation, Ticketmaster Exploit Fans

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission, along with seven states—Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia—filed a lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, accusing them of enabling ticket brokers to bypass artist-set purchase limits, costing fans millions through inflated resale prices. 

The FTC alleges Ticketmaster, which dominates 80% of primary ticketing for major venues, earned $3.7 billion in resale fees from 2019 to 2024 by ignoring these violations and failing to disclose full ticket prices, including fees, upfront, breaching consumer protection laws. 

The lawsuit, filed in California, adds to Ticketmaster’s legal challenges following the mishandled 2022 Taylor Swift Eras tour ticket sales, which crashed due to overwhelming demand from fans, bots, and resellers. 

The FTC cited a 2018 internal Ticketmaster email admitting the company “turns a blind eye” to reseller violations. This follows a 2024 Department of Justice lawsuit seeking to break up Live Nation and Ticketmaster for alleged monopolistic practices, which the companies deny. 

FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson emphasized the agency’s commitment to ensuring fair-priced tickets for fans. Ticketmaster and Live Nation did not immediately respond to comment requests.