Following the Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuit against the ticketing giant, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Ben Ray Luján have issued a letter demanding accountability from Live Nation’s CEO regarding alleged deceptive ticket pricing and resale practices. The letter specifically references claims made by the FTC and seven state attorneys general that accuse Live Nation of illegal resale tactics and manipulating prices in ways that harm consumers.
Senator Blackburn highlighted the 2016 Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, legislation designed to prevent scalpers from using automated software to circumvent purchase limits. Despite Live Nation’s previous assurances to the Senate about combating such practices, the senators now characterize those claims as misleading in light of evidence presented in the FTC lawsuit.
Live Nation’s assurances to combat scalping ring hollow as evidence reveals deceptive practices contrary to the BOTS Act’s intent.
The controversy extends beyond the recent letter, as Senator Amy Klobuchar has been leading efforts to address Live Nation’s alleged monopolistic practices. In 2023, following widespread consumer outrage over Taylor Swift ticket sales, Klobuchar convened a Senate hearing where bipartisan criticism targeted the company’s pricing strategies. Ticketmaster cited unprecedented ticket demand and bot activity as reasons for the Taylor Swift ticket sale problems. Senators have claimed that Live Nation has charged consumers over $16 billion in hidden fees while leveraging its dominant market position.
The Department of Justice previously extended and strengthened a consent decree with Live Nation, explicitly prohibiting retaliatory practices against venues that choose competitors over Ticketmaster. Despite these measures, venue operators continue to report coercion and threats from the entertainment conglomerate when they refuse to use Ticketmaster services. The senators expressed concern that Ticketmaster’s TradeDesk tool provided technical support to brokers that undermined consumer protections.
Competitors like SeatGeek have publicly advocated for breaking up Live Nation and Ticketmaster to restore fair competition in the ticketing industry.
The current congressional demands focus on greater transparency regarding Live Nation’s pricing strategies, disclosure of relationships with brokers and resale platforms, and stricter enforcement of existing consumer protection laws. These practices have significantly impacted musicians’ ability to earn fair compensation through live performances, which remains one of the most important income streams for artists in the digital era. Artists often depend on performing rights to secure adequate compensation when their music is played publicly at these events.
The senators’ actions reflect growing bipartisan concern that Live Nation’s business practices have created substantial barriers to competition while financially exploiting fans through repeated fees during initial sales, resales, and secondary market purchases.
