Lawmakers criticized Ticketmaster for increasing ticket fees after a regulatory push against undisclosed charges, as highlighted in a recent Guardian report.
Last May, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) mandated that Ticketmaster display all concert ticket fees upfront, a practice known as all-in pricing. The company subsequently removed the order processing fee, previously added at the end of transactions, to comply with this new rule.
However, public records obtained by the Guardian revealed that Ticketmaster merely inflated other charges to avoid revenue loss.
Former regulators speaking to the Guardian suggested that Ticketmaster’s methods could violate the Federal Trade Commission’s prohibition against deceptive fees.
Richard Blumenthal, a Democratic senator from Connecticut, stated: “Ticketmaster seems to believe it has a get-out-of-jail-free card to ignore antitrust and consumer protection laws. The FTC is going to have to choose whether to protect consumers and enforce the law, or cave to Ticketmaster lobbyists.”
The Federal Trade Commission sued Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, last September, partly for allegedly concealing mandatory fees until the transaction’s final stage. The company disputed this accusation, asserting its compliance with the FTC’s all-in pricing regulations.
Ticketmaster commented, “Since May 2025, tickets on Ticketmaster.com have displayed the full price upfront in line with the FTC’s all-in pricing rule. We also provide explanations of fees during the purchase process and maintain a dedicated page with additional information.”
Senator Blumenthal, a ranking member of the permanent subcommittee on investigations, released a report last month detailing how Ticketmaster inflated concert ticket prices post-pandemic. The investigation found that the company encouraged artists to list tickets on resale markets prior to general public availability and expanded dynamic pricing, both contributing to increased ticket costs for consumers and higher revenues for Ticketmaster.
Blumenthal further asserted, “As revealed by my PSI investigation, Ticketmaster has taken every opportunity to drive bait-and-switch practices, manipulate the market, and drive up the cost of tickets.”
An ongoing federal trial is examining whether Ticketmaster illegally monopolizes the live music sector and unfairly suppresses competition. Ticketmaster has refuted claims of being a monopoly.
Just one week into the trial, the Department of Justice unexpectedly settled with Live Nation Entertainment, a move that met with resistance from legislators. Subsequently, over 30 states chose to proceed with their own litigation.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, was among those criticizing the settlement. In a statement, she contended that the Guardian’s revelations about Ticketmaster’s fee strategies “is just the latest reason why Ticketmaster must be broken up – once and for all.”
She added, “Too many giant monopolies think the law doesn’t apply to them, and it’s American families who are forced to pay the price.”