Hi,

Ticketmaster fees are jacking up the cost of concert tickets, making them unaffordable for many people.1 These mysterious fees sometimes account for a whopping 70% of ticket prices on Ticketmaster.2

How can this be happening? Ticketmaster is a monopoly that owns both the ticketing platforms and venues for the vast majority of live music events in America. So, they can charge what they want. After the debacle with Taylor Swift ticket sales last month,3 Congress announced it intends to hold a hearing to review Ticketmaster’s fees, website problems, and cancellations.4 But a hearing is not enough. the Department of Justice must break this monopoly up!

Sign the petition: Break up the Ticketmaster-Live Nation monopoly to protect consumers and make concerts more affordable.

Have you gone to purchase a ticket recently, seen a $75 price, but ended up paying $110? We have too, and it shouldn’t be the case. In 2010, the government allowed Ticketmaster and Live Nation to merge into one single corporation under certain conditions. That was a huge mistake. The merger handed Ticketmaster-Live Nation an absurd market share. And Ticketmaster might be violating the conditions that the government set for their megamerger with Live Nation.5

As Congress announced that it intends to hold a hearing into Ticketmaster, the Department of Justice announced it was investigating Ticketmaster-Live Nation, too.6 These are important steps to address the bots snatching up tickets, the exorbitant fees, and the monopolistic nature of Ticketmaster-Live Nation. But consumers need relief now.

Consumers, performers, and venues need protection from Ticketmaster-Live Nation’s abuse. It’s time for the U.S. government to reverse the disastrous Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger!

Add your name: Call on the U.S. government to break up the Ticketmaster-Live Nation monopoly!

Thanks for taking action,

Tihi and the team at Demand Progress

Sources: 

  1. Reuters, “Congress to hold hearing on Ticketmaster problems after Taylor Swift debacle” November 22, 2022. 
  2. Hollywood Reporter, “Activist Group Asks Justice Dept. to Unwind Live Nation and Ticketmaster Merger,” October 19, 2022.
  3. Variety, “After Taylor Swift-Ticketmaster Fiasco, Senators Demand Answers From Federal Trade Commission,” November 29, 2022.
  4. Reuters, “Congress to hold hearing on Ticketmaster problems after Taylor Swift debacle” November 22, 2022. 
  5. Hollywood Reporter, “Activist Group Asks Justice Dept. to Unwind Live Nation and Ticketmaster Merger,” October 19, 2022.
  6. CBS News, “Ticketmaster parent Live Nation under investigation by DOJ; apology issued to Swift fans,” November 19, 2022.

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