FTC Sues Live Nation (Ticketmaster) Over Alleged Collusion With Resellers
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), joined by seven states, has filed a lawsuit against Live Nation (Ticketmaster), alleging the company knowingly allowed ticket brokers to bulk-purchase tickets and then resell them on Ticketmaster’s own secondary market at significant markups.
Key Allegations
- Ticketmaster allegedly let resellers bypass security measures and profited three times on resales — taking fees at initial purchase plus buyer and seller fees on resale.
- From 2019–2024, Ticketmaster collected approximately $16.4 billion in fees, per the FTC.
- An internal Live Nation review reportedly showed five resellers harvested 246,407 tickets for 2,594 events, and the company allegedly admitted it “turn[s] a blind eye as a matter of policy.”
- Ticketmaster is said to have offered broker support through its TradeDesk app, which consolidates tickets purchased via multiple accounts.
- The FTC claims Ticketmaster declined effective third-party identity verification because those tools would have been “too effective,” and engaged in deceptive pricing that hid the full cost from consumers.
- The suit alleges violations of the FTC Act (deceptive practices) and the BOTS Act (which bans the use of bots to buy more tickets than allowed).
Who Joined the FTC?
The states joining the suit are Virginia, Utah, Florida, Tennessee, Nebraska, Illinois and Colorado. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Sources
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