Senate hearing witnesses face tense questioning on Ticketmaster, Live Nation ticket resellers
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held a tense hearing on Wednesday (Jan. 28) titled "Fees Rolled on All Summer Long: Examining the Live Entertainment Industry." The hearing aimed to scrutinize the live music industry's practices, with particular focus on the relationship between Ticketmaster, a subsidiary of Live Nation, and ticket resellers.
Ticketmaster denies colluding with resellers
Live Nation Legal Chief Dan Wall testified that Ticketmaster has "walked the walk" in its efforts to oppose ticket brokers and other resale marketplaces. He emphasized the company's actions, pointing out that Ticketmaster banned brokers from operating multiple accounts after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a bombshell deceptive practices lawsuit against it.
Wall reiterated his stance during congressional testimony, stating that Live Nation consistently stands with artists, venues, and fans in opposition to ticket brokers. The company also utilizes sophisticated defenses to combat bots and ticket resellers.
However, lawmakers raised concerns about the FTC's claims. Commerce Committee Chair Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) expressed disappointment after reading an internal Ticketmaster email stating that executives had turned a "blind eye" to brokers exceeding ticket purchasing limits. Wall responded by saying his actions were taken out of context and that the company's actual efforts spoke louder than any words.
The hearing also addressed Live Nation and Ticketmaster's ongoing antitrust lawsuit, with Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) asking whether the companies operate a monopoly. Wall emphatically denied this, citing the Department of Justice's miscalculated market share.
Kid Rock, who testified at the hearing, expressed support for the DOJ's efforts to break up Live Nation and Ticketmaster. He argued that splitting up the two companies wouldn't solve the problem of high ticket prices and advocated for legislation imposing a 10% cap on ticket resale prices.
Ticket prices remain an issue
The contentious Senate hearing highlights ongoing concerns about ticket resellers and their impact on ticket prices. As the live music industry continues to evolve, lawmakers and regulatory bodies will likely keep scrutinizing these issues in pursuit of fairness and affordability for fans.
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held a tense hearing on Wednesday (Jan. 28) titled "Fees Rolled on All Summer Long: Examining the Live Entertainment Industry." The hearing aimed to scrutinize the live music industry's practices, with particular focus on the relationship between Ticketmaster, a subsidiary of Live Nation, and ticket resellers.
Ticketmaster denies colluding with resellers
Live Nation Legal Chief Dan Wall testified that Ticketmaster has "walked the walk" in its efforts to oppose ticket brokers and other resale marketplaces. He emphasized the company's actions, pointing out that Ticketmaster banned brokers from operating multiple accounts after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a bombshell deceptive practices lawsuit against it.
Wall reiterated his stance during congressional testimony, stating that Live Nation consistently stands with artists, venues, and fans in opposition to ticket brokers. The company also utilizes sophisticated defenses to combat bots and ticket resellers.
However, lawmakers raised concerns about the FTC's claims. Commerce Committee Chair Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) expressed disappointment after reading an internal Ticketmaster email stating that executives had turned a "blind eye" to brokers exceeding ticket purchasing limits. Wall responded by saying his actions were taken out of context and that the company's actual efforts spoke louder than any words.
The hearing also addressed Live Nation and Ticketmaster's ongoing antitrust lawsuit, with Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) asking whether the companies operate a monopoly. Wall emphatically denied this, citing the Department of Justice's miscalculated market share.
Kid Rock, who testified at the hearing, expressed support for the DOJ's efforts to break up Live Nation and Ticketmaster. He argued that splitting up the two companies wouldn't solve the problem of high ticket prices and advocated for legislation imposing a 10% cap on ticket resale prices.
Ticket prices remain an issue
The contentious Senate hearing highlights ongoing concerns about ticket resellers and their impact on ticket prices. As the live music industry continues to evolve, lawmakers and regulatory bodies will likely keep scrutinizing these issues in pursuit of fairness and affordability for fans.
... Kid Rock makes a legit point tho, 10% cap on resale prices wouldn't kill anyone 
... but what about all the other ticket resellers out there? We need some clear guidelines here 
... and can we please get some real answers from Live Nation? Their CEO's words don't exactly ring true 
... the whole thing just feels like a big mess 
.
. Can we really trust that they're doing what's best for artists & fans, or is it just a PR stunt? 
The fact that Kid Rock thinks breaking up the two companies wouldn't solve the ticket price problem makes me think there's more to this story 
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. It's like, if you're really looking out for artists and venues, wouldn't it be better to just reduce prices across the board instead of trying to cut out the middleman? 
. And have you noticed how ticket prices just keep going up, no matter what? I think there needs to be more transparency and regulation in this industry, not just from the government, but also from the artists and venues themselves 
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And what's up with Kid Rock thinking a 10% cap on ticket resale prices is gonna fix everything? Sounds like a band-aid solution to me 
Ticketmaster and Live Nation are gonna do what they gotta do to make a buck, it's the music industry for crying out loud! 
The artists are already getting screwed over by the venues and promoters, now these ticket resellers are just adding fuel to the fire... 
I mean, Kid Rock thinks a 10% cap on resale prices is gonna fix everything? 
Get real, that's like trying to hold water in your hands! 
The problem runs too deep than that. Maybe they should be focusing on making sure the artists are getting a fair share of the profits instead of playing games with ticket prices... 
... I mean, Ticketmaster's all like "we're not colluding with resellers" but that internal email from their execs just proved they were totally aware something was up 
- a 10% cap on resale prices would be a great start. And can we talk about how Live Nation is always talking about how they're against ticket brokers, but then they got caught doing it themselves? #HonestyMatters
- it's time to make some real changes in the live music industry. We need more transparency and fairness, not just corporate spin 
#TicketMasterReform
Meanwhile, did you know that ticket resale prices have been increasing by 15% YoY since 2020? 
According to data from SeatGeek, the average secondary market price for concerts is now $40 more than face value. 
. Can't we just have some common ground here? Like Kid Rock said, splitting up the two companies might not solve the problem entirely... but it'd be a start 
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Or is this just another exercise in showmanship? 
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Live Nation and Ticketmaster need to sort out their own issues before trying to regulate others