Live Nation and Ticketmaster Sued for Enabling Ticket Brokers and Overcharging Fans

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), alongside seven U.S. states, has filed a lawsuit accusing Live Nation and Ticketmaster of knowingly enabling ticket brokers to bypass purchase limits, leading to massive markups for fans. The suit, filed in California on September 18, claims the companies allowed this practice to continue for years, ignoring violations and collecting $3.7 billion in resale fees from 2019 to 2024.

According to the FTC, Ticketmaster’s dominance in the ticketing market—controlling 80% of primary ticket sales for major concert venues—was used to facilitate a system that harmed consumers. Instead of enforcing purchase limits set by artists, Ticketmaster allegedly turned a blind eye, allowing brokers to amass large quantities of tickets and resell them at inflated prices. The complaint also criticizes the company for failing to disclose total ticket prices upfront, including fees, violating consumer protection laws.

This legal action compounds Ticketmaster’s mounting regulatory troubles, including a 2024 Department of Justice lawsuit seeking to break up the company for monopolistic practices. Public outcry has intensified since the company’s mishandling of Taylor Swift’s 2022 Eras Tour ticket sales, which drew billions of automated requests and forced the cancellation of public sales.

The seven states joining the FTC in the lawsuit are Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia. As public scrutiny and legal pressure build, Ticketmaster’s practices—and its future structure—are under serious examination.