FTC Sues Live Nation and Ticketmaster Over Illegal Sales Practices

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken legal action against Live Nation and its parent company, Ticketmaster, accusing them of generating millions in revenue through unlawful ticket sales operations.

The FTC alleges that the companies inflated ticket prices and added excessive fees, collectively costing consumers billions. According to the agency, Live Nation and Ticketmaster engaged in deals with ticket brokers that violated legal standards.

In a statement detailing seven specific allegations, the FTC claimed:

“Live Nation and Ticketmaster tacitly coordinated with brokers to allow them to secure millions of tickets in the primary market illegally. These tickets were then resold at significant markups on the secondary market, forcing consumers to pay far above face value.”

The complaint further accuses the companies of misleading artists and buyers by advertising lower ticket prices than consumers ultimately pay, falsely claiming to enforce strict ticket purchase limits that brokers routinely exceeded, and selling millions of tickets at inflated prices through their resale platform that were obtained beyond artists’ limits.

The FTC also highlighted a contradiction in Ticketmaster’s public versus private stance. Publicly, Ticketmaster claims its business model opposes brokers who violate ticket limits, but internally acknowledges that its profits depend on brokers preventing everyday fans from buying tickets at face value.

FTC Chair Calls Lawsuit a Landmark Move to Protect Consumers

Andrew N. Ferguson, chairman of the FTC, emphasized the agency’s mission to shield Americans from unfair ticket pricing. “Live entertainment should be affordable and accessible,” Ferguson said. “It shouldn’t cost a fortune for families to attend a baseball game or a concert. This lawsuit marks a major step towards fair ticket pricing for fans.”

The lawsuit is supported by the Attorneys General of seven states: Virginia, Utah, Florida, Tennessee, Nebraska, Illinois, and Colorado.

Ticketmaster’s Market Dominance Under Scrutiny

Ticketmaster controls more than 80 percent of ticket sales at major venues and holds a significant position in the resale market. The FTC stated that from 2019 to 2024, consumers spent $82.6 billion through the company.

The lawsuit alleges that this dominance, combined with questionable business practices, has resulted in unfair financial burdens on consumers seeking tickets to live events.