Addressing the potential pending lawsuit from the Department of Justice against Live Nation Tuesday, Live Nation CFO and President Joe Berchtold said the company is about to begin talks with senior division leadership at the DOJ, but that he does not believe separating Live Nation and Ticketmaster will be the end result.
“Based on the issues we know about, we don’t believe a breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster would be a legally permissible remedy,” said Live Nation CFO and president Joe Berchtold.
Any lawsuit would typically come after those talks are concluded, he added. But Berchtold reiterated that the company believes the DOJ investigation is more focused on specific business practices, rather than the Live Nation merger with Ticketmaster, which took place in 2010 and was approved by the DOJ.
“Very little of the conduct the DOJ has raised with us relates to the combination of ticketing and promotion resulting from the merger,...
“Based on the issues we know about, we don’t believe a breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster would be a legally permissible remedy,” said Live Nation CFO and president Joe Berchtold.
Any lawsuit would typically come after those talks are concluded, he added. But Berchtold reiterated that the company believes the DOJ investigation is more focused on specific business practices, rather than the Live Nation merger with Ticketmaster, which took place in 2010 and was approved by the DOJ.
“Very little of the conduct the DOJ has raised with us relates to the combination of ticketing and promotion resulting from the merger,...
- 5/2/2024
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Live Nation may have lied to investors by misattributing its success to the quality of its platform and services instead of allegedly anticompetitive behavior, a federal judge has ruled.
U.S. District Judge Kenly Kato, in an order issued on Monday declining to dismiss a proposed class action lawsuit, found that the ticket giant may have violated securities laws by misrepresenting the scope of its legal troubles for allegedly abusing its market power in the live events industry. The judge concluded that the suit advances “cogent and compelling” allegations that Live Nation executives intentionally chose “not to disclose the full picture” regarding its revenue success or antitrust concerns because they “understood their likely effect on” investigations into its conduct by competition regulators.
Last year, The New York Times reported that the Justice Department had opened an antitrust investigation into Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, after the platform’s systems crashed...
U.S. District Judge Kenly Kato, in an order issued on Monday declining to dismiss a proposed class action lawsuit, found that the ticket giant may have violated securities laws by misrepresenting the scope of its legal troubles for allegedly abusing its market power in the live events industry. The judge concluded that the suit advances “cogent and compelling” allegations that Live Nation executives intentionally chose “not to disclose the full picture” regarding its revenue success or antitrust concerns because they “understood their likely effect on” investigations into its conduct by competition regulators.
Last year, The New York Times reported that the Justice Department had opened an antitrust investigation into Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, after the platform’s systems crashed...
- 2/27/2024
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Live Nation said it had its biggest year ever in 2023, in terms of both ticket sales and attendance.
For the full year, the entertainment giant, which also owns Ticketmaster, said concert attendance was up 20 percent compared to the prior year, with more than 145 million fans attending more than 50,000 events. Ticketmaster sold 620 million tickets, up 13 percent from 2022.
Across 2023, which included tours from mega artists such as Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, total revenue was up 36 percent, to reach $22.7 billion, and operating income increased 46 percent, to $1.07 billion.
In the fourth quarter, its most recent quarter, which is typically the slowest of the year, Live Nation reported total revenue of $5.8 billion, up 36 percent year-over-year, and operating income of $116.9 million, up 20 percent. Comparatively, in the third quarter, which was the company’s biggest quarter ever and typically the strongest of the year, the company had reported revenue of $8.2 billion and operating income of $619 million, up...
For the full year, the entertainment giant, which also owns Ticketmaster, said concert attendance was up 20 percent compared to the prior year, with more than 145 million fans attending more than 50,000 events. Ticketmaster sold 620 million tickets, up 13 percent from 2022.
Across 2023, which included tours from mega artists such as Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, total revenue was up 36 percent, to reach $22.7 billion, and operating income increased 46 percent, to $1.07 billion.
In the fourth quarter, its most recent quarter, which is typically the slowest of the year, Live Nation reported total revenue of $5.8 billion, up 36 percent year-over-year, and operating income of $116.9 million, up 20 percent. Comparatively, in the third quarter, which was the company’s biggest quarter ever and typically the strongest of the year, the company had reported revenue of $8.2 billion and operating income of $619 million, up...
- 2/22/2024
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Updated, with Live Nation response: A Senate subcommittee has subpoenaed Live Nation/Ticketmaster, demanding documents as part of an investigation into exorbitant ticket prices for Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen and other concerts.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-ct), who chairs the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, wrote earlier this month to Live Nation Entertainment CEO Michael Rapino and said that, since the investigation was launched in March, the company has “failed to comply” with their requests.
Read the letter to Rapino.
The investigation is looking into ticket pricing, fees and resale practices, among other things. The subscommittee also is seeking records related to Live Nation/Ticketmaster’s “failure to combat artificially inflated demand fueled by bots in multiple, high-profile incidents,” Blumenthal wrote in his letter.
In a statement, Blumenthal said, “This subpoena demands that the company promptly comply with our request for documents essential to understand its business practices. American consumers deserve fair ticket prices,...
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-ct), who chairs the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, wrote earlier this month to Live Nation Entertainment CEO Michael Rapino and said that, since the investigation was launched in March, the company has “failed to comply” with their requests.
Read the letter to Rapino.
The investigation is looking into ticket pricing, fees and resale practices, among other things. The subscommittee also is seeking records related to Live Nation/Ticketmaster’s “failure to combat artificially inflated demand fueled by bots in multiple, high-profile incidents,” Blumenthal wrote in his letter.
In a statement, Blumenthal said, “This subpoena demands that the company promptly comply with our request for documents essential to understand its business practices. American consumers deserve fair ticket prices,...
- 11/20/2023
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Live Nation reported its biggest quarter ever, with revenue up 32 percent year-over-year and a record number of tickets sold year-to-date.
In the third quarter, which is typically the strongest quarter of the year, the company reported revenue of $8.2 billion and operating income of $619 million, up 22 percent compared to last year.
Live Nation reported 140 million tickets sold for Live Nation shows so far this year, up 17 percent year-over-year and above the full year 2022 total of 121 million. Concert revenue was up 32 percent in the third quarter, reaching $7 billion.
On the Ticketmaster side, the company has sold 257 million fee-bearing tickets year-to-date, up 22 percent year-over-year. In the third quarter, the company sold 90 million of those fee bearing tickets and revenue in the segment was up 57 percent year-over-year to reach $833 million.
Going into 2024, Live Nation expects continued momentum, helped by a strong concert calendar and with expected show count for large venues up double digits so far.
In the third quarter, which is typically the strongest quarter of the year, the company reported revenue of $8.2 billion and operating income of $619 million, up 22 percent compared to last year.
Live Nation reported 140 million tickets sold for Live Nation shows so far this year, up 17 percent year-over-year and above the full year 2022 total of 121 million. Concert revenue was up 32 percent in the third quarter, reaching $7 billion.
On the Ticketmaster side, the company has sold 257 million fee-bearing tickets year-to-date, up 22 percent year-over-year. In the third quarter, the company sold 90 million of those fee bearing tickets and revenue in the segment was up 57 percent year-over-year to reach $833 million.
Going into 2024, Live Nation expects continued momentum, helped by a strong concert calendar and with expected show count for large venues up double digits so far.
- 11/2/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Live Nation president and CFO Joe Berchtold provided an update on the Department of Justice’s investigation into the company and its affiliated ticketing service, Ticketmaster, saying that he believes the DOJ is investigating certain business practices at the company, rather than the merged company itself.
“Our fundamental business model is not really being questioned,” Berchtold said Tuesday, adding that this is his opinion based on what he’s heard.
Speaking at Goldman Sach’s Communacopia and Technology Conference, Berchtold said he believes the DOJ is looking into certain components that make up the business, such as exclusivity on venues, all-in pricing and selling tickets on the secondary market. This came amid media reports that the DOJ is conducting an antitrust investigation into whether Live Nation, with its acquisition of Ticketmaster, had a monopoly over the industry.
The investigation came on the heels of technical issues and long wait times...
“Our fundamental business model is not really being questioned,” Berchtold said Tuesday, adding that this is his opinion based on what he’s heard.
Speaking at Goldman Sach’s Communacopia and Technology Conference, Berchtold said he believes the DOJ is looking into certain components that make up the business, such as exclusivity on venues, all-in pricing and selling tickets on the secondary market. This came amid media reports that the DOJ is conducting an antitrust investigation into whether Live Nation, with its acquisition of Ticketmaster, had a monopoly over the industry.
The investigation came on the heels of technical issues and long wait times...
- 9/6/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Scalpers are gouging buyers for the Toronto International Film Festival tickets — with screening prices rising by the minute, according to a review of online prices Tuesday.
On Monday, some of the premiere films were sold out on Ticketmaster, with scalpers demanding 10 times face value for some tickets — a bargain compared to the latest prices.
By Tuesday, tickets for The Boy and the Heron had topped $527 — more than a $200 increase. Meanwhile, tickets for “Dumb Money” were going for nearly $900.
Writer and filmmaker Siddhant Adlakha put a spotlight on the gouging, calling it “genuinely insane.”
“Ticketmaster is a scourge and using it as an official ticketing platform for a film festival is incredibly bizarre. It’s genuinely insane that people are allowed to buy and re-sell TIFF tickets pretty much the day they go on sale. The new Miyazaki (film) is going for over $300 US.” Adlakha wrote.
He was referring to Hayao Miyazaki...
On Monday, some of the premiere films were sold out on Ticketmaster, with scalpers demanding 10 times face value for some tickets — a bargain compared to the latest prices.
By Tuesday, tickets for The Boy and the Heron had topped $527 — more than a $200 increase. Meanwhile, tickets for “Dumb Money” were going for nearly $900.
Writer and filmmaker Siddhant Adlakha put a spotlight on the gouging, calling it “genuinely insane.”
“Ticketmaster is a scourge and using it as an official ticketing platform for a film festival is incredibly bizarre. It’s genuinely insane that people are allowed to buy and re-sell TIFF tickets pretty much the day they go on sale. The new Miyazaki (film) is going for over $300 US.” Adlakha wrote.
He was referring to Hayao Miyazaki...
- 8/29/2023
- by Tina Daunt
- The Wrap
Shareholders in Live Nation Entertainment are being invited to join a class action lawsuit filed earlier this month accusing the ticketing company of failing to disclose anticompetitive company operations.
New York-based firm Bernstein Liebhard’s lawsuit — filed on August 4 in California Federal Court — alleges that Live Nation “failed to disclose to investors that Live Nation engaged in anticompetitive conduct, including charging high fees and extended contracts with talent, and retaliated against venues,” and that the company also didn’t reveal that the company “was reasonably likely to incur regulatory scrutiny and face fines,...
New York-based firm Bernstein Liebhard’s lawsuit — filed on August 4 in California Federal Court — alleges that Live Nation “failed to disclose to investors that Live Nation engaged in anticompetitive conduct, including charging high fees and extended contracts with talent, and retaliated against venues,” and that the company also didn’t reveal that the company “was reasonably likely to incur regulatory scrutiny and face fines,...
- 8/9/2023
- by Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
Several law firms are investigating whether Live Nation lied to investors by failing to disclose the scope of its legal vulnerability for allegedly abusing its power in the live music industry.
New York-based firm Bernstein Liebhard sent out a notice on Tuesday soliciting investors to join a lawsuit that was filed last week against Live Nation, with three others already having done the same in the wake of reports that the Department of Justice plans to sue the company for antitrust violations. In a class action filed on Aug. 4 in California federal court, investors accused the company of lying to them about allegedly anticompetitive company operations that include charging bloated fees, bundling services and retaliating against venues that choose a ticketing service provider other than Ticketmaster.
Last year, The New York Times reported that the Justice Department had opened an antitrust investigation into Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, after the...
New York-based firm Bernstein Liebhard sent out a notice on Tuesday soliciting investors to join a lawsuit that was filed last week against Live Nation, with three others already having done the same in the wake of reports that the Department of Justice plans to sue the company for antitrust violations. In a class action filed on Aug. 4 in California federal court, investors accused the company of lying to them about allegedly anticompetitive company operations that include charging bloated fees, bundling services and retaliating against venues that choose a ticketing service provider other than Ticketmaster.
Last year, The New York Times reported that the Justice Department had opened an antitrust investigation into Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, after the...
- 8/8/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Update: President Joe Biden said that Ticketmaster and other companies’ moves to offer “all-in” pricing is a “win for consumers, in my view, and proof that our crackdown on junk fees has real momentum.”
He was joined at a White House event by Live Nation Venues President Tom See, xBk CEO Tobi Parks, Dice CEO Phil Hutcheon, SeatGeek CEO Jack Groetzinger and TickPick Co-CEO Brett Goldberg, as well as Airbnb CFO Dave Stephenson.
Previously: Live Nation’s Ticketmaster plans to offer all-in upfront pricing at more than 200 venues and festivals, an announcement promoted by the White House as progress on its drive to eliminate “hidden fees” slapped on consumers.
President Joe Biden will meet with Live Nation and other executives on Thursday, following up on his call last year to curb the fees. The White House called out the practice of adding “service fees” to the cost of concert tickets...
He was joined at a White House event by Live Nation Venues President Tom See, xBk CEO Tobi Parks, Dice CEO Phil Hutcheon, SeatGeek CEO Jack Groetzinger and TickPick Co-CEO Brett Goldberg, as well as Airbnb CFO Dave Stephenson.
Previously: Live Nation’s Ticketmaster plans to offer all-in upfront pricing at more than 200 venues and festivals, an announcement promoted by the White House as progress on its drive to eliminate “hidden fees” slapped on consumers.
President Joe Biden will meet with Live Nation and other executives on Thursday, following up on his call last year to curb the fees. The White House called out the practice of adding “service fees” to the cost of concert tickets...
- 6/15/2023
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Live Nation and its ticket selling arm Ticketmaster made commitments Thursday to show customers the full price of tickets, including fees, up front.
This announcement came as President Biden invited private sector companies to the White House Thursday, following his calls for federal agencies, Congress and private companies to cut down on junk fees. SeatGeek, which serves the primary and secondary ticketing market, another meeting attendee, also promised to roll-out features this summer that make it easier for customers to see the full price.
Live Nation committed to showing the all-in pricing for ticket buyers who attend shows at the more than 200 Live Nation venues at festivals. The company also said it would give customers the option to receive all-in upfront pricing for other tickets sold on Ticketmaster.
“Live Nation is proud to provide fans with a better ticketing buying experience. We have thousands of crew working behind the scenes...
This announcement came as President Biden invited private sector companies to the White House Thursday, following his calls for federal agencies, Congress and private companies to cut down on junk fees. SeatGeek, which serves the primary and secondary ticketing market, another meeting attendee, also promised to roll-out features this summer that make it easier for customers to see the full price.
Live Nation committed to showing the all-in pricing for ticket buyers who attend shows at the more than 200 Live Nation venues at festivals. The company also said it would give customers the option to receive all-in upfront pricing for other tickets sold on Ticketmaster.
“Live Nation is proud to provide fans with a better ticketing buying experience. We have thousands of crew working behind the scenes...
- 6/15/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Demand for concerts continues rising and bolstering the revenue of ticket seller and concert promoter and operator Live Nation.
The company reported total first-quarter revenue of $3.1 billion, up from $1.8 billion a year earlier and above analyst expectations. Concerts brought in $2.3 billion of that revenue, up from $1.2 billion, while ticketing increased to $678 million, from $480 million. Live Nation reported a loss of 25 cents per share, compared to a loss of 39 cents per share the prior year.
This comes as the company was able to operate in all of its markets worldwide for the first time in three years (Asia was the last market to reopen). The company sold more than 145 million tickets in its first quarter.
So far, Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, has sold close to 90 million tickets for concerts this year, which is up 20 percent from this time last year. The early sales numbers have included tickets to concerts from Beyoncé,...
The company reported total first-quarter revenue of $3.1 billion, up from $1.8 billion a year earlier and above analyst expectations. Concerts brought in $2.3 billion of that revenue, up from $1.2 billion, while ticketing increased to $678 million, from $480 million. Live Nation reported a loss of 25 cents per share, compared to a loss of 39 cents per share the prior year.
This comes as the company was able to operate in all of its markets worldwide for the first time in three years (Asia was the last market to reopen). The company sold more than 145 million tickets in its first quarter.
So far, Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, has sold close to 90 million tickets for concerts this year, which is up 20 percent from this time last year. The early sales numbers have included tickets to concerts from Beyoncé,...
- 5/4/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino’s total compensation package rose to $139 million in 2022, up from $13.8 million the previous year.
Rapino’s compensation included a base salary of $3 million, up from $2.6 million in 2021 (which came as Rapino agreed to take a pay reduction during the pandemic). Live Nation entered into a new employment agreement with Rapino in July 2022, ending Dec. 31, 2027, which meant he also earned a $6 million signing bonus.
The executive also earned a $12 million annual cash performance bonus for 2022 and stock awards of $116 million, some of which vest in early 2024, while others vest in four installments through 2027 if the company reaches certain stock price targets.
CFO Joe Berchtold also saw his overall compensation jump to $52.4 million in 2022, up from $5 million the prior year. His base salary increased slightly to $1.3 million from $1.1 million, and he also earned a signing bonus of $6 million and an annual cash performance bonus of $2.5 million. Berchtold received $42.4 million in stock awards.
Rapino’s compensation included a base salary of $3 million, up from $2.6 million in 2021 (which came as Rapino agreed to take a pay reduction during the pandemic). Live Nation entered into a new employment agreement with Rapino in July 2022, ending Dec. 31, 2027, which meant he also earned a $6 million signing bonus.
The executive also earned a $12 million annual cash performance bonus for 2022 and stock awards of $116 million, some of which vest in early 2024, while others vest in four installments through 2027 if the company reaches certain stock price targets.
CFO Joe Berchtold also saw his overall compensation jump to $52.4 million in 2022, up from $5 million the prior year. His base salary increased slightly to $1.3 million from $1.1 million, and he also earned a signing bonus of $6 million and an annual cash performance bonus of $2.5 million. Berchtold received $42.4 million in stock awards.
- 4/28/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Some of the Swifties who sued Ticketmaster and Live Nation after the much-bemoaned on-sale for Taylor Swift’s Eras tour took to the U.S. District Court in Downtown Los Angeles on Monday for their suit’s first hearing. They simultaneously held a small protest to air out their frustrations over a ticketing system they say is stacked against fans.
The hearing itself was on the court’s 8:30 a.m. docket and was less than 15 minutes long, pertaining mainly to scheduling matters as the court determines whether the case...
The hearing itself was on the court’s 8:30 a.m. docket and was less than 15 minutes long, pertaining mainly to scheduling matters as the court determines whether the case...
- 3/28/2023
- by Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
Live Nation president and CFO Joe Berchtold indirectly acknowledged that the company is undergoing an investigation by the Department of Justice.
In an interview at a Morgan Stanley investor conference Wednesday, Berchtold was asked to share any commentary about the substance or process of the DOJ investigation. The New York Times had first reported that the DOJ was conducting an antitrust investigation into Live Nation, which also owns Ticketmaster, in November 2022.
Berchtold, in Live Nation’s most substantive comments on the investigation so far, said that the company had previously reached settlements with the Department of Justice over its merger with Ticketmaster. (The first settlement, in 2010, restricted Live Nation from withholding tours from venues that did not use Ticketmaster and the second, in 2019, extended that consent decree, with new rules about retaliation.)
“We have a binding agreement with the DOJ as it relates to any perceived deeds in the past,...
In an interview at a Morgan Stanley investor conference Wednesday, Berchtold was asked to share any commentary about the substance or process of the DOJ investigation. The New York Times had first reported that the DOJ was conducting an antitrust investigation into Live Nation, which also owns Ticketmaster, in November 2022.
Berchtold, in Live Nation’s most substantive comments on the investigation so far, said that the company had previously reached settlements with the Department of Justice over its merger with Ticketmaster. (The first settlement, in 2010, restricted Live Nation from withholding tours from venues that did not use Ticketmaster and the second, in 2019, extended that consent decree, with new rules about retaliation.)
“We have a binding agreement with the DOJ as it relates to any perceived deeds in the past,...
- 3/8/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
As Beyoncé fans anxiously waited online looking to secure tickets to Queen Bey’s upcoming Renaissance tour, the high price of ticket fees is once again a groan-inducing discussion among ticket-buyers as they have no choice but to swallow the hefty added costs if they want to see her show.
Some customers who bought VIP packages for the tour — already among the priciest and highest-quality experiences at the venue — saw service fees as high as 550 (about a 15 service fee) atop the 3,757 the customer already spent on their seat. The most expensive tickets,...
Some customers who bought VIP packages for the tour — already among the priciest and highest-quality experiences at the venue — saw service fees as high as 550 (about a 15 service fee) atop the 3,757 the customer already spent on their seat. The most expensive tickets,...
- 2/10/2023
- by Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
Tickets for Beyoncé’s upcoming Renaissance tour, one of the most in-demand concerts in recent memory, won’t hit the market until next week. But that hasn’t stopped ticket scalpers from posting listings for as much as 3,000 a ticket — even if they don’t actually have them yet.
Such a practice isn’t new, nor is it in any way unique to Queen Bey. Tickets for Fall Out Boy’s “So Much For (Tour) Dust” Tour, for instance, don’t hit pre-sale until Thursday, but tickets were already listed...
Such a practice isn’t new, nor is it in any way unique to Queen Bey. Tickets for Fall Out Boy’s “So Much For (Tour) Dust” Tour, for instance, don’t hit pre-sale until Thursday, but tickets were already listed...
- 2/2/2023
- by Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
Ticketmaster is back in the spotlight, as tickets for Beyoncé’s upcoming Renaissance tour go on sale on the platform in the coming days.
This will be a big test for the ticketing giant, following the long wait times and technical glitches the site experienced during the presales for Taylor Swift’s tour in November. The issues sparked congressional pushback and hearings, vitriol among fans, several of whom filed a lawsuit against the ticketing giant, and pushback from Swift, who said she had been assured the platform could “handle this kind of demand.”
In his statement during the Jan. 24 congressional hearing on the matter, Live Nation President and CFO Joe Berchtold blamed bots and cyber attacks for the problems during the Swift’s presale. The bots failed to acquire tickets, he said, but dealing with the attacks slowed down the site. He promised the company would do better.
“The recent onsale experience with Taylor Swift,...
This will be a big test for the ticketing giant, following the long wait times and technical glitches the site experienced during the presales for Taylor Swift’s tour in November. The issues sparked congressional pushback and hearings, vitriol among fans, several of whom filed a lawsuit against the ticketing giant, and pushback from Swift, who said she had been assured the platform could “handle this kind of demand.”
In his statement during the Jan. 24 congressional hearing on the matter, Live Nation President and CFO Joe Berchtold blamed bots and cyber attacks for the problems during the Swift’s presale. The bots failed to acquire tickets, he said, but dealing with the attacks slowed down the site. He promised the company would do better.
“The recent onsale experience with Taylor Swift,...
- 2/2/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
President Joe Biden wants limits placed on concert ticket fees and TV and internet providers’ early termination charges, as the White House seizes on the practices as a sign of lack of competition in various business sectors.
Biden will announce the proposals at a meeting of the President’s Competition Council on Wednesday. Also being highlighted is a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule to curb excessive credit card late fees, and a Department of Transportation rule to require airlines and booking sites to show the full price of an airline ticket upfront.
Additional proposals would be part of a Junk Fee Prevention Act, legislation that targets an array of fees placed on consumers.
The White House’s focus on concert ticket prices follows a Senate hearing last week that focused on that issue and competition in the ticketing industry, as lawmakers grilled Live Nation President Joe Berchtold about subsidiary Ticketmaster.
Biden will announce the proposals at a meeting of the President’s Competition Council on Wednesday. Also being highlighted is a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule to curb excessive credit card late fees, and a Department of Transportation rule to require airlines and booking sites to show the full price of an airline ticket upfront.
Additional proposals would be part of a Junk Fee Prevention Act, legislation that targets an array of fees placed on consumers.
The White House’s focus on concert ticket prices follows a Senate hearing last week that focused on that issue and competition in the ticketing industry, as lawmakers grilled Live Nation President Joe Berchtold about subsidiary Ticketmaster.
- 2/1/2023
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Ticketmaster has long been a nuisance for fans who want to snag tickets when their favorite artist comes into town. The recent debacle involving Taylor Swift tickets has led to a congressional investigation into anti-competitive tactics used by the company. Country star Garth Brooks has emerged as a defender of Ticketmaster, claiming the real problem is scalpers who put too much demand on the ticketing website.
Congress is investigating Ticketmaster after the disastrous Taylor Swift pre-sale tickets situation Garth Brooks | Kevin Mazur/BBMA2020/Getty Images for dcp
Since Ticketmaster and Live Nation merged, the company has held a monopoly over the ticket-selling industry. In November 2022, Taylor Swift fans swarmed the website when the pre-sale for her upcoming The Eras Tour. Many Swifties were excited to secure their seats for the tour, but many were greeted with website crashes or excessive wait times in queues. Taylor Swift issued a statement after the incident,...
Congress is investigating Ticketmaster after the disastrous Taylor Swift pre-sale tickets situation Garth Brooks | Kevin Mazur/BBMA2020/Getty Images for dcp
Since Ticketmaster and Live Nation merged, the company has held a monopoly over the ticket-selling industry. In November 2022, Taylor Swift fans swarmed the website when the pre-sale for her upcoming The Eras Tour. Many Swifties were excited to secure their seats for the tour, but many were greeted with website crashes or excessive wait times in queues. Taylor Swift issued a statement after the incident,...
- 1/27/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Multiple senators chose their words wisely during Monday’s congressional hearing addressing Ticketmaster parent company Live Nation’s November fiasco regarding Taylor Swift ticket sales.
None of it was accidental as the “Mastermind” senators quoted several of Swift’s lyrics while grilling the ticket-selling company on Capital Hill.
Read More: Taylor Swift And Ticketmaster Offer Verified Fans A Second Chance At ‘Eras Tour’ Tickets
“You can’t have too much consolidation. Something that unfortunately for this country, as a ode to Taylor Swift, I will say we know ‘all too well’,” Senior United States Senator from Minnesota, Amy Klobuchar said, naming the singer’s 2012 song to address the incident that gained mass attention as it was scolded by thousands of fans online.
Ready for the Taylor Swift Ticketmaster hearing pic.twitter.com/S5ojxJg37X
— Germ (@anthonygermano) January 24, 2023
“A lot of people seem to think that’s somehow a solution,...
None of it was accidental as the “Mastermind” senators quoted several of Swift’s lyrics while grilling the ticket-selling company on Capital Hill.
Read More: Taylor Swift And Ticketmaster Offer Verified Fans A Second Chance At ‘Eras Tour’ Tickets
“You can’t have too much consolidation. Something that unfortunately for this country, as a ode to Taylor Swift, I will say we know ‘all too well’,” Senior United States Senator from Minnesota, Amy Klobuchar said, naming the singer’s 2012 song to address the incident that gained mass attention as it was scolded by thousands of fans online.
Ready for the Taylor Swift Ticketmaster hearing pic.twitter.com/S5ojxJg37X
— Germ (@anthonygermano) January 24, 2023
“A lot of people seem to think that’s somehow a solution,...
- 1/25/2023
- by Melissa Romualdi
- ET Canada
Ticketmaster has apologised after its site crashed and left thousands of Taylor Swift fans without tickets.
Ticketmaster’s parent company Live Nation said that they should have done a “better job” by staggering sales over a longer time period, during a congressional hearing addressing its handling of the singer’s ticket sales.
“We apologise to the fans. We apologise to Ms Swift. We need to do better, and we will do better, said Live Nation president Joe Berchtold.
The ticket company published a statement ahead of a US Senate hearing, which blamed a bot attack for the issues with the site.
According to the statement, Ticketmaster usually controls bot issues by using the pre-registration service to ensure fans are legitimate.
However, bots were still able to overwhelm the system, so Ticketmaster apparently slowed the site down to ensure they were unable to get access.
In a statement submitted by Ticketmaster ahead of the senate,...
Ticketmaster’s parent company Live Nation said that they should have done a “better job” by staggering sales over a longer time period, during a congressional hearing addressing its handling of the singer’s ticket sales.
“We apologise to the fans. We apologise to Ms Swift. We need to do better, and we will do better, said Live Nation president Joe Berchtold.
The ticket company published a statement ahead of a US Senate hearing, which blamed a bot attack for the issues with the site.
According to the statement, Ticketmaster usually controls bot issues by using the pre-registration service to ensure fans are legitimate.
However, bots were still able to overwhelm the system, so Ticketmaster apparently slowed the site down to ensure they were unable to get access.
In a statement submitted by Ticketmaster ahead of the senate,...
- 1/25/2023
- by Megan Graye
- The Independent - Music
Update: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-mn) told reporters that she that she believes that the three-hour Senate hearing focusing on Ticketmaster’s business practices helped educate some members “so we can move forward on some consumer legislation when it comes to ticket prices.”
The criticism of Ticketmaster and parent Live Nation Entertainment came from both sides of the aisle, as lawmakers blasted the company not just for the Taylor Swift ticket debacle but for its market power in three sectors of live entertainment: ticketing, promotion and venues.
“You wouldn’t know sometimes who was speaking, a Democrat or Republican. They want to help consumers. There are concert fans that are in red states and blue states.” She said that by making the hearing public, “I think you are going to see some changes immediately — small changes, but some changes, it sounds like.” She also pointed to reports that the Justice Department is investigating the company.
The criticism of Ticketmaster and parent Live Nation Entertainment came from both sides of the aisle, as lawmakers blasted the company not just for the Taylor Swift ticket debacle but for its market power in three sectors of live entertainment: ticketing, promotion and venues.
“You wouldn’t know sometimes who was speaking, a Democrat or Republican. They want to help consumers. There are concert fans that are in red states and blue states.” She said that by making the hearing public, “I think you are going to see some changes immediately — small changes, but some changes, it sounds like.” She also pointed to reports that the Justice Department is investigating the company.
- 1/24/2023
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
In the wake of the Taylor Swift ticketing debacle, U.S. Senators took aim at Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, with many arguing that it’s a monopoly that should be broken up.
Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) led the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday, entitled “That’s the Ticket: Promoting Competition and Protecting Consumers in Live Entertainment.” Klobuchar and Lee were specifically focused on whether Live Nation had violated its consent decree, a set of conditions and divestitures Live Nation and Ticketmaster agreed to when they merged in order to ensure competition.
The hearing follows the Taylor Swift ticket presale on Ticketmaster on Nov. 15, in which fans experienced long wait times and site outages during the Verified Fan presale and the Capital One pre-sale the next day.
During the hearing, Live Nation President and CFO Joe Berchtold blamed bots and cyber attacks for the problems during the ticket sale,...
Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) led the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday, entitled “That’s the Ticket: Promoting Competition and Protecting Consumers in Live Entertainment.” Klobuchar and Lee were specifically focused on whether Live Nation had violated its consent decree, a set of conditions and divestitures Live Nation and Ticketmaster agreed to when they merged in order to ensure competition.
The hearing follows the Taylor Swift ticket presale on Ticketmaster on Nov. 15, in which fans experienced long wait times and site outages during the Verified Fan presale and the Capital One pre-sale the next day.
During the hearing, Live Nation President and CFO Joe Berchtold blamed bots and cyber attacks for the problems during the ticket sale,...
- 1/24/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Austin Stowell, Patrick Fischler, Bree Elrod and Philip Ettinger have been cast in “A Friend of the Family,” Peacock’s upcoming true crime limited series from UCP and showrunner and executive producer Nick Antosca.
The series is based on the true story of the Broberg family, whose daughter Jan (Hendrix Yancey) was kidnapped multiple times over a period of years by Robert “B” Berchtold (Jake Lacy), a charismatic, obsessed family “friend.” The Brobergs — devoted to their faith, family and community — were utterly unprepared for the sophisticated tactics their neighbor used to exploit their vulnerabilities, drive them apart and turn their daughter against them. “A Friend of the Family” follows how their lives were permanently altered and how they survived.
Stowell will play FBI Agent Pete Welsh, a young investigator dead set on returning Jan to her family. As a father himself, Pete invests in Jan’s case and grows frustrated...
The series is based on the true story of the Broberg family, whose daughter Jan (Hendrix Yancey) was kidnapped multiple times over a period of years by Robert “B” Berchtold (Jake Lacy), a charismatic, obsessed family “friend.” The Brobergs — devoted to their faith, family and community — were utterly unprepared for the sophisticated tactics their neighbor used to exploit their vulnerabilities, drive them apart and turn their daughter against them. “A Friend of the Family” follows how their lives were permanently altered and how they survived.
Stowell will play FBI Agent Pete Welsh, a young investigator dead set on returning Jan to her family. As a father himself, Pete invests in Jan’s case and grows frustrated...
- 4/6/2022
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Peacock’s limited drama series A Friend Of The Family continues to build its cast, adding Austin Stowell (The Hating Game), Patrick Fischler (American Crime Story: Impeachment), Bree Elrod (Red Rocket) and Philip Ettinger (First Reformed). They will join previously announced stars Anna Paquin, Jake Lacy, Lio Tipton, Mckenna Grace and Hendrix Yancey. A Friend Of The Family comes from Nick Antosca, who serves as showrunner, writer and executive producer.
A Friend Of the Family is based on the harrowing true story of the Broberg family, whose daughter Jan was kidnapped multiple times over a period of years by a charismatic, obsessed family “friend.” The Brobergs — devoted to their faith, family, and community — were utterly unprepared for the sophisticated tactics their neighbor used to exploit their vulnerabilities, drive them apart, and turn their daughter against them. This is the story of how their lives were permanently altered — and how they survived.
A Friend Of the Family is based on the harrowing true story of the Broberg family, whose daughter Jan was kidnapped multiple times over a period of years by a charismatic, obsessed family “friend.” The Brobergs — devoted to their faith, family, and community — were utterly unprepared for the sophisticated tactics their neighbor used to exploit their vulnerabilities, drive them apart, and turn their daughter against them. This is the story of how their lives were permanently altered — and how they survived.
- 4/6/2022
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
Following a Lollapalooza festival where attendees were required to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test, Live Nation announced Friday that they will allow touring artists to choose whether to implement similar mandates for their upcoming concerts.
In a companywide email to employees obtained by Rolling Stone, CEO Michael Rapino said that all Live Nation employees will be required to be vaccinated, a move previously enforced by large companies like Microsoft, Tyson, Disney and Google as the spread of the Delta variant continues (and an issue of concern among artists,...
In a companywide email to employees obtained by Rolling Stone, CEO Michael Rapino said that all Live Nation employees will be required to be vaccinated, a move previously enforced by large companies like Microsoft, Tyson, Disney and Google as the spread of the Delta variant continues (and an issue of concern among artists,...
- 8/6/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Ticketing and concert promotion giant Live Nation Entertainment saw a 98% drop in revenue in its second quarter compared to the same quarter in 2019, the company said in its earnings report on Wednesday — in a stark portrait of just how badly the coronavirus pandemic has upended live music.
This quarter, which typically comprises the bulk of festival season along with summer tours for major artists, represents what should have been the busiest portion of the year for Live Nation. But it was reduced to a near-complete standstill. Revenue for Live Nation...
This quarter, which typically comprises the bulk of festival season along with summer tours for major artists, represents what should have been the busiest portion of the year for Live Nation. But it was reduced to a near-complete standstill. Revenue for Live Nation...
- 8/5/2020
- by Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
Live Nation and Aeg, North America’s largest concert promoters, are halting all large-scale tours in the U.S. and abroad until April, and asking artists to come home amid coronavirus fears.
The competitors aligned with the biggest booking agencies in the country to mount a unified effort to address the situation. In a joint statement, executives from Live Nation, Aeg, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), William Morris Endeavor (Wme), Paradigm, and United Talent Agency (UTA) said they are working together to develop best practices to safeguard artists, fans, and staff in the concert industry.
The competitors aligned with the biggest booking agencies in the country to mount a unified effort to address the situation. In a joint statement, executives from Live Nation, Aeg, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), William Morris Endeavor (Wme), Paradigm, and United Talent Agency (UTA) said they are working together to develop best practices to safeguard artists, fans, and staff in the concert industry.
- 3/12/2020
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Live Nation Entertainment has placed production chief Heather Parry on a leave of absence in response to a Variety investigation into allegations of verbally abusive behavior and offensive language.
The move comes more than six months after 10 employees filed Hr complaints, according to multiple sources interviewed by Variety over the past four months. The complaints apparently went nowhere until Friday, as Live Nation prepared an official response to this story. Parry, who is an executive producer of “A Star Is Born” and produced documentaries with Lady Gaga and Sean “Diddy” Combs, has operated the film and TV production arm of Live Nation Entertainment since December 2015.
“At Live Nation we pride ourselves on having an open, accessible and inclusive culture,” a Live Nation spokesman said in a statement. “We take all employee complaints seriously and have retained a third party to investigate. We have placed Ms. Parry on leave during this time.
The move comes more than six months after 10 employees filed Hr complaints, according to multiple sources interviewed by Variety over the past four months. The complaints apparently went nowhere until Friday, as Live Nation prepared an official response to this story. Parry, who is an executive producer of “A Star Is Born” and produced documentaries with Lady Gaga and Sean “Diddy” Combs, has operated the film and TV production arm of Live Nation Entertainment since December 2015.
“At Live Nation we pride ourselves on having an open, accessible and inclusive culture,” a Live Nation spokesman said in a statement. “We take all employee complaints seriously and have retained a third party to investigate. We have placed Ms. Parry on leave during this time.
- 12/21/2018
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.