FTC and Seven States Sue Ticketmaster and Live Nation Over Alleged Illegal Ticket Resale Practices

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), along with attorneys general from seven states including Florida, Illinois, and Virginia, has filed a lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, alleging illegal ticket resale practices that have led to inflated prices for consumers.

The complaint, filed in federal court in California, accuses the companies of collaborating with ticket brokers to circumvent security measures and purchase large quantities of tickets, which are then resold at higher prices. This practice allegedly violates the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act.

According to the FTC, Ticketmaster controls approximately 80% of major concert venues' ticketing. Between 2019 and 2024, consumers spent over $82 billion on tickets through the platform.

The lawsuit also alleges that Ticketmaster engaged in deceptive pricing strategies by advertising lower ticket prices and adding substantial fees at the end of the purchase process, sometimes increasing the total cost by up to 44%.

FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson stated, "American live entertainment is the best in the world and should be accessible to all of us. It should not cost an arm and a leg to take the family to a baseball game or attend your favorite musician’s show."

Ticketmaster and Live Nation have not immediately responded to requests for comment. Following the announcement of the lawsuit, shares of Live Nation fell approximately 2%.

This legal action follows previous scrutiny of Ticketmaster's practices, including a 2022 incident involving the sale of tickets for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, which led to widespread criticism and calls for increased regulation of the ticketing industry.