Live Nation worker admitted ignoring predatory ticket broker practices: court docs
A Live Nation Employee’s Admission Revealed in Court Documents
In a surprising turn of events, a Live Nation employee confessed to ignoring ticket brokers buying large quantities of tickets, stating that they would “normally look the other way,” as per recently released court documents.
The chat logs, uncovered as part of a federal antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation, cast doubt on Live Nation’s previous claims that artists should have the final say in ticket distribution across all live event platforms.
During a series of Slack messages in January 2022, Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold, both regional ticketing directors at the time, discussed an outside ticket broker purchasing all wheelchair-accessible seats for an upcoming Kid Rock concert. Baker expressed frustration, stating, “Normally I’d look the other way, but the dumba-s listed them on TM+,” referring to Ticketmaster’s resale platform.
Weinhold suggested canceling the tickets if they were listed right away, indicating a willingness to intervene in such situations.
Live Nation has not yet responded to requests for comment on these revelations.
Allegations of Unfair Ticket Pricing Practices
Live Nation and Ticketmaster are facing accusations of charging excessive ticket prices and stifling competition. Live Nation recently settled with the Justice Department, although several states continue to pursue the case.
In separate Slack messages, Baker and Weinhold were seen boasting about imposing high fees on ticket purchases at Live Nation venues, with court records showing conversations where they exploited customers with exorbitant parking fees.
One conversation highlighted the significant revenue generated from premier parking fees at a venue, showcasing a pattern of taking advantage of customers.
Live Nation has disavowed the content of the Slack messages, stating that they do not reflect the company’s values or operations. The company’s leadership became aware of the messages at the same time as the public and promised to investigate the matter promptly.
DOJ Settlement and Ongoing Legal Battles
Despite dodging a breakup in the proposed DOJ settlement, Live Nation and Ticketmaster will face restrictions on service fees, venue booking access, and exclusivity deals as part of the agreement. The settlement also includes a $280 million fund to settle state claims.
If no settlement is reached, the case is set to continue on Monday, with Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino being asked to remain in New York to assist in the proceedings.
The revelations from Baker and Weinhold’s conversations raise questions about Live Nation’s commitment to combating predatory ticket practices, a central issue in the ongoing federal lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission.
The FTC’s case alleges that Live Nation and Ticketmaster misled consumers regarding ticket purchase limits and turned a blind eye to brokers violating those limits, as evidenced by internal communications within the companies.
Senator Marsha Blackburn has criticized Ticketmaster’s response to these allegations, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in the ticketing industry.
