Justice Department sues Ticketmaster and owner Live Nation, alleging illegal monopoly

[Bearcat]

Thanks, Taylor!

BREAKING: Justice Department sues Ticketmaster and owner Live Nation, alleging an illegal monopoly over live events in the U.S. https://t.co/yMlRYo0WqR

— The Associated Press (@AP) May 23, 2024

“We allege that Live Nation relies on unlawful, anticompetitive conduct to exercise its monopolistic control over the live events industry in the United States at the cost of fans, artists, smaller promoters, and venue operators,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. “The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services. It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster.”

[Katipan]

They prevent artists from performing at places where they don't control ticket sales.

I'm hoping that's simple enough.

[Hammock Parties]

Tickets should be sold by whoever controls the venue. Simple. Not sure why a third-party ever got involved.

[ThrobProng]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Tickets should be sold by whoever controls the venue. Simple. Not sure why a third-party ever got involved.

Or the performers could sell tickets directly to the public. They are the ones who are (or should be) the most concerned about making fans happy. Why would they leave any customer service up to a venue or some rotten dickhole entity like Ticketmaster?

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by TomBarndtsTwin

TicketMaster IS a scam, but do we really wanna involve the govt. in this? Let's think about that for a second.

TicketMaster has the right to charge whatever ridiculous fees they want to and you as the consumer have the right to tell them to '**** off' and not purchase from them.

Good point. You can stay at home and be a dickless loser posting Broncos tweets all day, all night. That will show Ticketmaster.

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by scho63

Here are a few theoretical questions:
-What if the government wants to regulate beer prices at Dodger Stadium?
-What if the government wants to start blocking player contracts saying they are too excessive?
-What about souvenirs?

The whole sporting and entertainment events industry is so out of control with costs.

I think Ticketmaster is an easy villain.

If Ticketmaster is using extortion tactics, then it should be criminal not civil/antitrust.

The reason for all these lawsuits and actions is that it is a way for states and Feds to extort large amounts of money from corporations to bring into their coffers.

The people affected get shit.

The lawyers and government make out and you get a check for $7.26.

Strawman much?

If the free market is working, it should be left alone.

If the 'free market' has turned into an essentially unregulated monopoly, or a company that exerts so much power that there is no longer a free market and little prospect of a correction on its own..., then the government getting involved is the lesser of two evils.

No, people don't automatically have to go jail. You just want a functional free market. Free markets don't always happen by magic if left alone. Sometimes free markets end up with a monopoly.

Although if laws have been broke, sure.

It's not that hard in theory, even if it is hard in practice.

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by TomBarndtsTwin

TicketMaster IS a scam, but do we really wanna involve the govt. in this? Let's think about that for a second.

TicketMaster has the right to charge whatever ridiculous fees they want to and you as the consumer have the right to tell them to '**** off' and not purchase from them.

Or you can elect politicians that will pass laws that say unregulated monopolies will be broken up.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Chief Pagan

Or you can elect politicians that will pass laws that say unregulated monopolies will be broken up.

Those days are long gone...

[GabyKeepsMeWarm]

Well, better late than never, I guess. Pearl Jam tried to do their part 30 years ago and nobody game a damn. Thanks for coming to the rescue "Justice" department.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Scho if Ashley Madison was being sued to lower their fees would you be happy?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by TomBarndtsTwin

TicketMaster IS a scam, but do we really wanna involve the govt. in this? Let's think about that for a second.

TicketMaster has the right to charge whatever ridiculous fees they want to and you as the consumer have the right to tell them to '**** off' and not purchase from them.

It owns the exclusive rights to book shows in "their" venue. Including Sprint center in KC. If a band or an event wants to use Sprint center it must use Ticketmaster to sell the tickets. That's a monopoly.

Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider

Meh, this is actually something the government should be doing, breaking up abusive monopolies that actually harm consumers and businesses.

THIS!

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by GabyKeepsMeWarm

Well, better late than never, I guess. Pearl Jam tried to do their part 30 years ago and nobody game a damn. Thanks for coming to the rescue "Justice" department.

Tickets were $20 back then. I have ticket stubs from OZZY and Priest that were $10 for first row dead center. Now, It's $150 to see anyone and thats usually in the upper deck. Major band? North of $200.00. When you are paying a booking/convience fee on a $10 ticket is a way different animal from paying that fee on a $200 ticket. Thats just not inflation and increased costs.

[scho63]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

Scho if Ashley Madison was being sued to lower their fees would you be happy?

Not if they wanted all the customers to come testify and I could be Epsteined.

[Stewie]

I miss the days of Chris Fritz and buying tickets at Tiger Records.

[scho63]

I would love to know how many of supporters of the Justice Department going after Ticketmaster use Uber Eats or DoorDash.

[scho63]

CNBC just had a young idiot DEI hire on to talk about the lawsuit and she couldn't answer any questions about quantifying the damage.

All she did was say "This is the beginning, not the end. There will be discovery."

So once again, a charge seeking a crime.