Ticketmaster Asks Federal Judge to Dismiss FTC Lawsuit

Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, have requested a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC alleges that Ticketmaster illegally coordinated with brokers, deceiving consumers and artists regarding ticket prices and policies. Ticketmaster argues that the BOTS Act, which the FTC claims they violated, is intended to help ticketing platforms combat abusive reseller practices, not to regulate the platforms themselves. They contend that resellers, not Ticketmaster, are responsible for the prices on their resale platform.

The FTC and seven states initially sued Ticketmaster and Live Nation in September, claiming they allowed brokers to bypass artist-imposed ticket limits and sell tickets at inflated prices. This action follows a March executive order from President Trump directing enforcement of competition laws within the entertainment industry.

Separately, Live Nation is also facing an antitrust lawsuit brought by the Justice Department and 30 states, alleging monopolistic practices and control over approximately 80% of primary ticketing for major concert venues. Live Nation maintains that increased production costs, artist popularity, and online scalping are the primary drivers of higher ticket prices, and the Justice Department case is scheduled for trial in March.

(Source：Pymnts)