The FTC is suing Ticketmaster for illegally ‘coordinating’ with brokers

image via The Verge

September 18, 2025, 5:37 PM

• •Ticketmaster is accused of allowing ticket brokers to exceed purchase limits and profiting from inflated resale values.
• •The FTC alleges deceptive pricing practices by Ticketmaster.
• •Ticketmaster is accused of turning a blind eye to scalpers.
• •The FTC refutes Ticketmaster's claims of technological challenges in combating scalping.

The government is targeting Ticketmaster and Live Nation in an antitrust investigation, accusing the company of allowing ticket brokers to exceed purchase limits and profiting from inflated resale values. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleges that Ticketmaster employs deceptive pricing practices and turns a blind eye to scalpers as a matter of policy. With Ticketmaster controlling a significant portion of the primary ticket market, fans and artists often lack alternatives, while the company profits twice from the same tickets. The FTC refutes Ticketmaster's claims of technological challenges in combating scalping, arguing that the company's actions force consumers into the resale market.

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