Live Nation settlement changes coming for concert tickets

Live Nation exec over Florida venue called fans “stupid,” bragged he was “robbing them blind”

The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement with Live Nation after the department accused the live entertainment giant of operating an illegal monopoly over the industry.

In Slack messages from unsealed documents, Ben Baker, former regional director of ticketing for venues including Live Nation’s MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre near Tampa, called fans “so stupid,” said that he “gouge[s]” them, and bragged that Live Nation is “robbing them blind, baby,” according to a memorandum of law filed by the U.S. and 40 states, including Florida.

Baker is now head of ticketing for Venue Nation, the memo said.

Live Nation has agreed to settle with the department in a deal that includes the divestment of up to 13 of its amphitheaters nationwide and establishes a 15% cap on service fees for people who want to use the venues, according to a senior Justice Department official. Live Nation’s exclusive deals with amphitheaters will be limited to 50% of those events, with the remaining 50% open to other promoters or ticketing companies.

Ticketmaster, a subsidiary of Live Nation, is also required to offer its technology to other ticket sellers, such as StubHub, to reach customers. Live Nation is also not allowed to retaliate against a venue that picks a primary ticketer other than Ticketmaster.

The senior DOJ official said the settlement includes a civil fine to be paid by Live Nation, but the amount of the fine remains unclear. It would be $280 million if the settlement involves all the states that are part of the lawsuit, the official said. However, the $280 million figure may change based on how many states actually sign onto the settlement.

Live Nation facing anti-trust accusations

Forty states, including Florida, launched a class action lawsuit to break up Live Nation’s supposed monopoly after allegations of overcharging.

“Live Nation’s monopoly on the music industry harms fans through higher fees and hurts artists and venues through lack of options,” former Florida Attorney General, now U.S. Senator Ashley Moody said in May 2024. “They leverage their extensive network of venues to force artists to select Live Nation as a promoter instead of alternatives.

“We are fighting to end these monopolistic practices and bring relief to Florida and fans who paid more than they would have in a competitive market for tickets,” she said.

The company, an industry power player that reportedly earned $25 billion in revenue and $500 million in profit last year, controls roughly 70%-80% of major concert and live‑event ticket sales and owns a significant share of venues and concert promotions.

In March 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting ticket price gouging. That order directs the treasury secretary and the attorney general to ensure ticket scalpers comply with the IRS’ tax collections, and directs the Federal Trade Commission to work with the attorney general to ensure competition laws are enforced. Live Nation supported the executive order at the time.

The Senate Commerce Committee also approved and introduced the TICKET Act, a bipartisan bill that would make it a requirement to display the total event ticket price, including fees, up front. The legislation has not passed the Senate.

What does Live Nation settlement mean for Floridians?

Ticket buyers will not see refunds with the settlement, but the Justice Department says prices will come down for live entertainment fans.

“We’re very excited about this settlement, because it basically opens up markets for other competitors, which will allow for competition that previously didn’t exist in primary ticketing and in the live entertainment space,” said the senior Justice Department official.

“And what you’re going to see there is that competition is going to have a direct impact on prices coming down. It’ll also give consumers more options and not feel like they just have to go through Live Nation or Ticketmaster.”

Live Nation, Ticketmaster critics slam DOJ deal

Brian Berry, executive director of the Ticket Policy Forum, who spoke at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on live concert and event fees, called the deal a “token tap on the wrist.”

“It appears the DOJ has once again failed to protect live event fans and market competition with a settlement that will equate to less than a speed bump for the Live Nation-Ticketmaster monopoly,” Berry said in a statement. “The only winners are Live Nation shareholders and the company’s lobbyists.”

Regarding the settlement’s requirements, Berry added, “Live Nation doesn’t win on technology or service, but rather through fear costing fans and competitors untold millions each year.” He added that the fight against Live Nation’s supposed monopoly is not over, as “we are confident many state attorneys general will stay the course to hold this market manipulator accountable.”