Ticketmaster has quietly introduced new hidden charges to cover the financial impact of a regulatory crackdown on so-called "junk fees," according to a recent investigative report. The company claims it is complying with rules implemented in 2025, but internal documents suggest it is raising other fees to offset lost revenue.
Fee Adjustments Following FTC Regulations
Months after U.S. regulators banned surprise fees that appear during ticket purchases, Ticketmaster increased the cost of other fees to "offset the revenue loss," as revealed in documents obtained by The Guardian. Last May, Ticketmaster pledged to display all-in ticket pricing upfront to customers following a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ban on junk fees. While the company stopped charging the small amounts added at checkout to comply with the rules, it raised the price of other fees to make up for the shortfall.
Internal Communications Exposed
"To account for the loss of order processing revenue, we must adjust fees to offset the revenue loss," Ticketmaster wrote in an email to the Findlay Toyota Center in Arizona last year. The venue had eliminated its $6 order processing fee but increased its service fee by $2 per ticket. The outlet obtained copies of Ticketmaster's contracts with 26 venues across the country, most of which described an order processing fee similar to the one mentioned in the email. This fee is no longer permitted under FTC regulations.
Potential Regulatory Violations
At least eight of the venues amended their contracts to raise other fees after the all-in pricing rules took effect. Former regulators warned that grouping an illegal fee with another charge could violate the FTC's rule against misrepresenting fees, which became effective last May. "Ticketmaster may effectively still be charging the fee, just disguising it as something else. That type of behavior can run afoul of the FTC rule," said John Newman, a former economist at the FTC.
Company Response and Broader Context
In a statement to The Guardian, Ticketmaster asserted, "Since May 2025, tickets on Ticketmaster.com have displayed the full price upfront in line with the FTC's all-in pricing rule. We also provide explanations of fees during the purchase process and maintain a dedicated page with additional information." The Independent has contacted Ticketmaster for further comment.
Antitrust Trial Background
This report emerges as Live Nation Entertainment, the parent company of Ticketmaster and Live Nation, faces an antitrust trial over allegations that it operates as an illegal monopoly in the live music industry. The U.S. Department of Justice initially filed a lawsuit against the entertainment giant but reached a tentative settlement shortly after the trial began earlier this month. While the DOJ has withdrawn its claims, more than 30 states are rejecting the settlement. Live Nation Entertainment denies that it functions as a monopoly.
