Live Nation news

Ticketmaster heads off UK regulatory action with ‘voluntary’ transparency commitments after Oasis debacle

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Ticketmaster • 3 min read

Ticketmaster heads off UK regulatory action with ‘voluntary’ transparency commitments after Oasis debacle

Ticketmaster has made a number of commitments to the Competition & Markets Authority following the regulator’s investigation into the sale of tickets for the Oasis reunion shows. It has pledged to better communicate when it uses ‘tier pricing’ and to explain how different ticket types compare…

Chris Cooke • 26 Sep 2025

Live Nation colludes with ticket touts, says US government as it launches legal action

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Live Nation • 5 min read

Live Nation colludes with ticket touts, says US government as it launches legal action

Earlier this year Donald Trump ordered a crackdown on dodgy ticket touts. Now the FTC is suing Live Nation’s Ticketmaster, claiming the ticketing company colludes with ticket touts that employ dodgy tactics to source tickets that they then sell at a massive mark up on Ticketmaster’s own resale site…

Chris Cooke • 19 Sep 2025

As FTC begins crack down on ticket scalping, scalpers say Ticketmaster endorses their practices

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Secondary Ticketing • 4 min read

As FTC begins crack down on ticket scalping, scalpers say Ticketmaster endorses their practices

The FTC in the US has started to crackdown on ticket scalpers that it reckons have violated the BOTS Act, which prohibits certain practices for sourcing tickets for resale. But one targeted scalping company says its ticket sourcing practices are not only lawful but also authorised by Ticketmaster…

Chris Cooke • 29 Jul 2025

“Split Live Nation into four companies”, independent venues tell the US government

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Live Nation • 3 min read

“Split Live Nation into four companies”, independent venues tell the US government

The deadline passed this week for submissions to the US government’s review of the ticketing business. Live Nation has asked for a 20% price cap on secondary ticketing, while NIVA wants even tighter regulation of resale - and for Live Nation to be split up into four separate companies…

Chris Cooke • 09 Jul 2025

AIF calls for competition regulator to investigate Live Nation’s market dominance in the UK

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Live Nation • 3 min read

AIF calls for competition regulator to investigate Live Nation’s market dominance in the UK

Following the recent Parliamentary hearing discussing Live Nation’s dominance in the UK live music market, the Association Of Independent Festivals has asked competition regulator the CMA to investigate if there is anti-competitive behaviour. That would parallel similar investigations in the US…

Chris Cooke • 08 Jul 2025

Live Nation has “enormous grip” on festival market but indies entertain more festival-goers, says new report

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Association Of Independent Festivals • 2 min read

Live Nation has “enormous grip” on festival market but indies entertain more festival-goers, says new report

The Association Of Independent Festivals has published a report mapping the UK festival market. It highlights Live Nation’s dominant position, owning three of the four major festivals. However, independently owned events account for the majority of the combined capacity of the UK festival sector…

Chris Cooke • 25 Jun 2025

Ticketmaster offered touts meetings with Live Nation’s top lawyer

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Live Nation • 5 min read

Ticketmaster offered touts meetings with Live Nation’s top lawyer

Ticket touts who were convicted of fraud were offered meetings with Selina Emeny, Live Nation’s International Group Counsel, says a BBC investigation, with the live giant raking in huge commissions from fraudulent sales. Maybe Live Nation could cough up a similar donation to the LIVE Trust……

Sam Taylor • 12 Jun 2025

US launches investigation into “unfair and anticompetitive practices” in ticketing

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US Department Of Justice • 3 min read

US launches investigation into “unfair and anticompetitive practices” in ticketing

The US government has launched a public inquiry into the ticketing business following an executive order from Donald Trump targeting “unfair practices in the live entertainment market”. Ticket scalping will definitely be scrutinised, but the wider ticketing industry could also be in the spotlight…

Chris Cooke • 08 May 2025

Live Nation sucks up to Trump after US president targets ticket scalpers

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Secondary Ticketing • 4 min read

Live Nation sucks up to Trump after US president targets ticket scalpers

Donald Trump has issued an executive order instructing the FTC to ramp up its efforts regulating ticket scalpers in the US, including by better enforcing the BOTS Act. Although scalper-centric, the order could also impact on the wider ticketing business, and especially Live Nation and Ticketmaster…

Chris Cooke • 01 Apr 2025

Live Nation boss dismissive of streaming platforms’ superfan ambitions as company reports record year

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Live Nation • 5 min read

Live Nation boss dismissive of streaming platforms’ superfan ambitions as company reports record year

Live Nation’s CEO has told analysts that streaming platforms need ticket pre-sale inventory to make super premium work - but whether or not they get it is another question. The company spent more than $450 million settling Astroworld lawsuits in 2024 - and there’s still no news on the DOJ lawsuit…

Sam Taylor • 21 Feb 2025

Live Nation expands venues business in South Africa and Portugal

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Live Nation • 2 min read

Live Nation expands venues business in South Africa and Portugal

Live Nation continues to expand its venues business, this week announcing the launch of its first permanent venue in Africa, The Dome in Johannesburg, and the acquisition of a majority stake in Lisbon’s MEO Arena…

Chris Cooke • 29 Nov 2024

Massachusetts hobbles touts as Barcelona pledges to combat “illegal resale” of tickets

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Ticketing • 4 min read

Massachusetts hobbles touts as Barcelona pledges to combat “illegal resale” of tickets

Live Nation has welcomed a new law in Massachusetts that restricts the resale of tickets, despite some consumer rights groups criticising the move. Meanwhile in Spain, the City Council in Barcelona has signed an official declaration pledging to fight against “illegal ticket resale”…

Chris Cooke • 21 Nov 2024