Internal Messages Show Live Nation Directors Boasting About High Fees
Court documents have revealed shocking internal messages from two Live Nation ticketing directors, who bragged about charging exorbitant fees to fans. The messages, which include discussions of charging $250 for VIP parking and mocking customers as "stupid," emerged as part of a major antitrust lawsuit filed against the company.
Antitrust Lawsuit and Allegations of Monopoly
The Justice Department, along with 40 states, initiated an antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, in 2024. The legal action accuses the company of operating an illegal monopoly over live events across the United States. This lawsuit follows years of criticism directed at Live Nation and Ticketmaster for their high service fees and perceived poor customer service.
Calls for an investigation intensified in 2022 after Ticketmaster's problematic rollout of tickets for Taylor Swift's Eras tour, which left many fans frustrated and unable to purchase seats. The recent court documents, reported by Bloomberg, highlight a series of messages from 2022 between Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold, both regional directors of ticketing for Live Nation amphitheaters. In these exchanges, the directors openly discussed raising prices on ancillary fees.
Details of the Internal Exchanges
In one particularly damning conversation, Baker and Weinhold talked about charging concertgoers $250 for a VIP parking spot. Baker wrote, "These people are so stupid, I almost feel bad taking advantage of them." In another instance, Baker boasted about charging "$50 to park in the grass" and "$60 for closer grass," adding, "Robbing them blind baby, that's how we do it."
While discussing ticket sale prices, Baker admitted, "I gouge them on ancil [sic] prices to make up for it." Ancillary fees refer to charges for additional services not included in the main purchase price, such as parking or other amenities. These messages have sparked outrage among consumers and regulators alike.
Live Nation's Response and Investigation
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Live Nation stated that it is investigating the matter. The company emphasized, "The Slack exchange from one junior staffer to a friend absolutely doesn't reflect our values or how we operate." Live Nation explained that leadership only became aware of the private Slack messages when they were made public and promised to look into the issue promptly.
The company also defended its practices, noting that it has capped amphitheater venue fees at 15 percent and invested $1 billion over the last 18 months into U.S. venues and fan amenities. "Our business only works when fans have great experiences," the statement concluded. The Daily Mail attempted to contact Baker and Weinhold for comment, but responses were not immediately available.
Settlement and Ongoing Legal Battles
Baker, who now serves as the head of ticketing for the Live Nation unit responsible for its 150 amphitheaters, was scheduled to testify in the federal trial. However, his testimony was postponed after Live Nation and the Justice Department reached a settlement on Monday. This settlement, which still requires judicial approval, mandates that the company open its ticketing platform to competitors and allow other concert promoters to stage events at certain venues.
In a statement, Live Nation expressed satisfaction with the settlement, which it believes will enable other promoters to gain increased access to multiple markets. Michael Rapino, president and CEO of Live Nation, stated, "We have never relied on exclusivity to drive our ticketing business, it has simply been the result of having the best products, services and people in the industry."
States Reject Settlement and Continue Legal Action
Despite the settlement, many states have declined to join the agreement and plan to continue pursuing their cases against Live Nation. New York Attorney General Letitia James criticized the pact, saying it "fails to address the monopoly at the center of this case." She affirmed, "My attorney general colleagues and I have a strong case against Live Nation, and we will continue our lawsuit."
A release from her office listed other states rejecting the settlement, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia. This indicates that the legal challenges against Live Nation are far from over, as regulators seek to address concerns over market dominance and consumer exploitation.
