Today, Chamber of Progress released a new report revealing how Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary Ticketmaster have executed a “quiet but sweeping campaign” in state legislatures to strengthen its monopoly position in the ticketing industry. The report, authored by Chamber of Progress Policy Analyst Aden Hizkias, outlines Live Nation’s efforts to restrict the secondary ticket market to hinder competition, limit consumer choice, and drive up prices for fans. 

Read The Report Here.

The report details how Live Nation lobbies state houses to restrict the resale market under the guise of consumer protection, hiding anti-resale provisions in legislation that purports to address consumer harms like bots, fraud, and speculative ticketing. While these bills may appear consumer-friendly, the report encourages state legislators to  remain vigilant against proposals from Live Nation that serve as a pretext for maintaining their monopoly. 

The report urges lawmakers to adopt resale freedom laws that enable consumers to buy, sell, and transfer tickets without arbitrary restrictions imposed by primary sellers like Live Nation. 

“Live Nation has ruthlessly campaigned to maintain its stranglehold over the entire ticketing ecosystem through anti-resale policies,” said Chamber of Progress Vice President of Technology Policy Todd O’Boyle. “State legislators should see this Trojan Horse strategy for what it is: bad for competition and bad for fans.”

In May, 39 states joined the U.S. Department of Justice in suing Live Nation for its flagrantly anticompetitive behavior, including the conglomerate’s efforts to restrict competition in the resale market. According to the Justice Department’s antitrust complaint, Live Nation controls roughly 80 percent of major concert venues’ primary ticketing for concerts and a growing share of ticket resales in the secondary market.

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Chamber of Progress (progresschamber.org) is a center-left tech industry policy coalition promoting technology’s progressive future.  We work to ensure that all Americans benefit from technological leaps, and that the tech industry operates responsibly and fairly.  

Our corporate partners do not have a vote on or veto over our positions. We do not speak for individual partner companies and remain true to our stated principles even when our partners disagree.