The Justice Department is suing Ticketmaster and Live Nation. What does that mean for concertgoers?

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Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. patron / ˈpeɪ trən / (n.) – someone who frequently visits or buys products and services from a particular business or place, such as a restaurant, store, or hotel
    Example:

    The museum relies on its patrons to fund new exhibits and support educational programs.


  2. slew / slu / (n.) – a large number of people or things
    Example:

    The new movie received a slew of positive reviews from viewers and critics.


  3. probe / proʊb / (v.) – to examine or ask a lot of questions about something, often to discover information or find out more details
    Example:

    During the interview, the journalist kept probing the CEO to know more details about the issues in his company.


  4. outcry / ˈaʊtˌkraɪ / (n.) – a strong and often public expression of protest, dislike, or anger
    Example:

    There was a massive outcry on social media following the announcement of the new law.


  5. monopolistic / məˈnɒː pəlˈɪs tɪk / (adj.) – having or trying to have complete control over a product or service, making it hard for other businesses to compete
    Example:

    The monopolistic company was the only one selling electricity in the area, so the people had no other choices.


Article

Read the text below.

Will the Justice Department’s lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation give concertgoers, sports fans, and theater patrons some relief from surging ticket prices?


The lawsuit could potentially lead to a breakup of Live Nation Entertainment, a company that resulted from Ticketmaster’s 2010 merger with concert promoter Live Nation. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the aim is to allow more competition and to let smaller players gain more of the U.S. ticket-selling market—of which Ticketmaster controls a whopping 70%.


More competition could lead to cheaper tickets. But experts say live event lovers shouldn’t expect changes any time soon.


The Justice Department on May 23 accused Live Nation of engaging in a slew of practices that have allowed it to maintain a stronghold over the live music scene. They accused it of using long-term contracts to keep venues from choosing rival ticketers, blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers, and threatening venues that they could lose money and fans if they don’t choose Ticketmaster.


The uproar that resulted from a myriad of problems Swifties encountered while trying to buy tickets through Ticketmaster for the pop star’s Eras Tour in 2022 shined a light on cracks in the U.S. ticketing system.


State attorneys general—30 of whom have joined the Justice Department’s lawsuit—started probing Ticketmaster. The widespread social media outcry even led to a Senate hearing.


Ticket prices have gone up for multiple reasons, including a huge surge in demand after the COVID-19 pandemic. And as anyone who has tried to score tickets to a popular event knows, service fees and ticket resales can push prices up much higher, in some cases into the thousands of dollars.


The Justice Department’s lawsuit alleges that having a giant company like Live Nation Entertainment exacerbates markups since it controls so much of the market.


Live Nation and Ticketmaster, which have long clashed with artists and fans, have always denied they act in a monopolistic manner. They say service fees go to concert venues and that outside competition has “steadily eroded” Ticketmaster’s market share.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The lawsuit alleges that having a giant company like Live Nation Entertainment exacerbates markups since it controls so much of the market. Do you believe that the lawsuit is only fair and necessary? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Ticketmaster controls 70% of the U.S. ticket-selling market. Considering the company’s influence, how do you think the lawsuit, which aims to reduce its stronghold over the live music scene, will affect artists, venues, and fans (ex. for fans: concert tickets will be cheaper, for artists: their shows will not be promoted well)? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Ticket prices have gone up due to a surge in demand, service fees, ticket resales, and, as the Justice Department alleges, Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s monopolistic strategies. Do you think artists are also responsible for high ticket prices? Why or why not? If you were an artist on a tour, would you do something to bring the costs of the tickets to a lower price? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Would you consider purchasing a ticket for a live event, even if it was priced significantly higher than usual due to factors like demand or resale markups? What factors would influence your decision to buy a ticket at a higher price (ex. how much I like the artist, good seating)? Discuss.