Ticketmaster, known formally as Live Nation Entertainment after their 2010 merger with Live Nation, has won a lawsuit filed against them by consumers thanks to their Terms And Conditions. The antitrust lawsuit was filed in Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and was ruled against by a judge, who said the lawsuit belongs in arbitration rather than in court.
The ruling stems from Live Nation Entertainment's Terms And Conditions, which states that claims against the company in this matter can only be settled by arbitration – not by a judge in court. So basically that little "I Agree" box you checked when you bought your last round of concert tickets could potentially screw you. Great news, right?
The Hollywood Reporter explains the "arbitrator" situation as such: "Companies typically prefer arbitration because plaintiffs can’t team up and leverage others’ claims to negotiate big-money settlements.
"Attorneys representing ticket purchasers in the suit may turn to filing arbitration claims en masse. The tactic has been used against companies that enforce such agreements. Under most policies, companies are required to pay legal fees for the proceedings."
A US Senate antitrust panel, with Senator Amy Klobuchar acting as the chair, began hearings in 2022 on a lack of competition in the ticketing industry brought to a head by the recent Taylor Swift ticketing debacle.
On top of that, there's also the recent formation of the Break Up Ticketmaster coalition. The coalition is made up of the American Economic Liberties Project, Sports Fans Coalition, Fight Corporate Monopolies, More Perfect Union, Fan Freedom, the Consumer Federation of America, the National Consumers League, and the Artist Rights Alliance and seeks to end the company's massive hold on the ticketing industry.
"Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged in 2010," reads their website. "Despite promises of increased competition and consumer benefit, they now control 70% primary ticketing and live event venues market. They’re hiking up ticket prices, charging rip-off junk fees, and exploiting artists, independent venues, and fans.
"The Department of Justice can reverse this merger and bring competition back to the industry. Help us demand that they do." Check out the Break Up Ticketmaster site here.
