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The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement with Live Nation<\/a> after the department accused the live entertainment giant of operating an illegal monopoly over the industry.<\/p>\n In Slack messages from unsealed documents, Ben Baker, former regional director of ticketing for venues including Live Nation\u2019s MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre near Tampa, called fans \u201cso stupid,\u201d said that he \u201cgouge[s]\u201d them, and bragged that Live Nation is \u201crobbing them blind, baby,\u201d according to\u00a0a\u00a0memorandum of law<\/a>\u00a0filed by the U.S. and 40 states, including Florida<\/a>.<\/p>\n Baker is now head of ticketing for Venue Nation, the memo said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Ticketmaster<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Forty states, including Florida, launched a\u00a0class action lawsuit<\/a>\u00a0to break up Live Nation’s supposed monopoly after allegations of overcharging.<\/p>\n \u201cLive Nation\u2019s 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<\/a>. “They leverage their extensive network of venues to force artists to select Live Nation as a promoter instead of alternatives.<\/p>\n \u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2011event ticket sales and owns a significant share of venues and concert promotions.<\/p>\n In March 2025,\u00a0President Donald Trump<\/a>\u00a0signed an executive order targeting ticket price gouging. That order directs the treasury secretary and the attorney general\u00a0to 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.<\/p>\n
\nLive Nation exec over Florida venue called fans “stupid,” bragged he was “robbing them blind”<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Live Nation facing anti-trust accusations<\/h2>\n