"The FTC also alleges that the ticket company is misleading artists and consumers with "bait-and-switch pricing," with tactics such as advertising lower ticket prices than the actual total after inflated pricing and extra fees. Founded in 1976, Ticketmaster has been the industry's largest ticket provider since 1995, with around 80% of live concerts sold through the site. As of late, it has also acquired a growing share of the resale market."
"The lawsuit comes after years of complaints from customers, who are often unable to get their hands on tickets and end up paying much more than the original cost. Ticketmaster and concert promoter Live Nation merged in 2010 in a deal that was controversial at the time because of antitrust concerns. Last year, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Live Nation, which suggested breaking up the company due to its alleged monopolistic practices."
The Federal Trade Commission is suing Ticketmaster and Live Nation, alleging the companies resell tickets that brokers illegally acquired on the primary market and then list them on Ticketmaster at prices far above face value. The FTC alleges deceptive "bait-and-switch" pricing that advertises lower ticket prices while adding inflated costs and extra fees. Ticketmaster, founded in 1976, controls roughly 80% of live concert ticketing and expanded into resale; consumers spent over $82.6 billion on the platform from 2019 to 2024. The lawsuit follows years of customer complaints, a controversial 2010 merger, and a separate DOJ antitrust suit.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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