"The government lawyers wrote that the statements should be part of the trial because they are 'candid, internal messages' in which Ben Baker 'calls fans 'so stupid,' explains that he 'gouge(s)' them, and brags that Live Nation is 'robbing them blind, baby.''"
"At the trial, lawyers for the federal government and 39 states and the District of Columbia say Live Nation and Ticketmaster were squelching competition and driving up prices for fans through threats, retaliation and other tactics to 'suffocate the competition' by controlling virtually every aspect of the industry, from concert promotion to ticketing."
"They said the employees were discussing Live Nation's price for access to the VIP area of a show at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa when Baker wrote that the prices are 'outrageous,' that 'these people are so stupid' and that Live Nation is 'robbing them blind.'"
Over two dozen states are pursuing an antitrust trial against Live Nation and Ticketmaster in Manhattan federal court. Government lawyers presented internal Slack messages from 2021-2023 as evidence, showing employees mocking customers and admitting to exploitative pricing practices. A regional ticketing director named Ben Baker called fans 'so stupid' and stated the company was 'robbing them blind.' The government alleges Live Nation and Ticketmaster suppress competition and inflate prices through threats and retaliation while controlling concert promotion, ticketing, and venue operations. The companies counter that artists, teams, and venues independently set prices and determine ticket sales methods. Baker has since been promoted to head of ticketing for Venue Nation.
#antitrust-litigation #live-nation-and-ticketmaster #price-gouging #competition-suppression #internal-communications-evidence
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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