On this week's show we discuss the US government’s legal action against Live Nation that seeks to force it to sell off Ticketmaster, ticket touts’ plans to fight the Labour Party’s proposed 10% price cap on the resale of tickets, and more.
Section times
01: Live Nation (00:06:40)
02: News in brief (00:23:07)
03: Ticket resale lobbying (00:26:52)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)
This week's main stories
Live Nation sued under anti-competition laws by US government
The US Department Of Justice has sued Live Nation over allegations of anticompetitive conduct. It follows the government department’s most recent investigation into the live giant’s dominance in tours, venues and ticketing. The lawsuit asks the court to force Live Nation to sell Ticketmaster
Chris Cooke
Live Nation class action reps millions of ticket holders
Having been sued by the US government over alleged anticompetitive conduct, Live Nation is also facing a class action that seeks to represent millions of ticket buyers. The new lawsuit also claims Live Nation abuses its market dominance, though the impact on secondary ticketing is a particular focus
Chris Cooke
Ticketmaster hack may affect 560 million people
A group of hackers claim to have stolen 1.3TB of data after hacking the Ticketmaster platform, including the personal data of more than half a billion ticket-buyers. The Australian government has confirmed it is already investigating the hack, working with Ticketmaster to “understand the incident”
Chris Cooke
Campaigners react to “sinister” ticket tout lobbying plans
A group of ticket touts recently met in London to plot a campaign against the Labour Party’s plan to put a 10% price cap on the resale of tickets, with the support of a US lobbying group. Anti-touting campaigners in the UK say those efforts could backfire and aid their bid to get the cap into law
Chris Cooke
News in brief
US court agrees to fast-track legal challenge over TikTok ban
The legal challenge over the proposed TikTok ban in the US will be fast-tracked, so that oral arguments will begin in September. Under a law passed by US Congress, TikTok owner ByteDance has until 19 Jan 2025 to sell the app or face a ban, meaning its legal efforts to block the ban are pretty urgent
Chris Cooke
Sacha Lord under pressure over COVID funding
Live industry luminary Sacha Lord threatened to sue online publication The Manchester Mill after they alleged wrongdoing relating to an Arts Council funding application. Now he’s done a 180 and says he won’t sue... for now
Sam Taylor
Music industry news in brief: Queen, DMX, Spotify + more
Queen, DMX, Banx & Ranx, RDx deals; Spotify price hike in France; Beatport playlist; Dice adds Extras; Cher wins royalties lawsuit; Foundry Consultancy launches; Music Photography Awards submissions; New Diddy allegations; new releases from Snow Patrol, Nick Cave, Marc Almond, Max Richter, and more
Andy Malt
Music festival drug testing returns as UK government issues licences
Drug testing at festivals will be more widely available again this summer, as the UK government issues more licences. Services to check illegal substances were reduced last year, after the Home Office insisted licences were required - something festival organisers said had never been the case before
Andy Malt
Also mentioned
Spotify is being sued over Car Thing abandonware
Spotify has been sued by subscribers who are still using its Car Thing device to control use of the service in their vehicles. Sales of Car Thing stopped in 2022 and the device will no longer be supported from December, meaning remaining devices won’t work. That, says a lawsuit, is not acceptable
Chris Cooke
Music industry news in brief: Queen, DMX, Spotify + more
Queen, DMX, Banx & Ranx, RDx deals; Spotify price hike in France; Beatport playlist; Dice adds Extras; Cher wins royalties lawsuit; Foundry Consultancy launches; Music Photography Awards submissions; New Diddy allegations; new releases from Snow Patrol, Nick Cave, Marc Almond, Max Richter, and more
Andy MaltRevealed: how touts drew up secret plans to sabotage Labour’s ticket reforms
Exclusive: Footage shows private event, attended by representatives of firms including StubHub and Viagogo, where £73,000 was raised for political lobbying
Rob Davies