Ticketmaster faces U.S. lawsuit over resale tactics; UK action may follow

The Federal Trade Commission and seven states filed a lawsuit against Ticketmaster's parent, Live Nation Entertainment, accusing the entertainment giant of anti-competitive ticketing practices and coordinating with brokers to buy large blocks of tickets for resale at substantial markups. Regulators said the tactics harmed consumers and violated federal and state consumer-protection laws. The legal action, announced on Tuesday, marks a new phase in regulatory scrutiny of the live-events market.

Ticketmaster controls about 80% of major-venue ticket sales, a position regulators say gives it outsized influence over pricing and access. The complaint points to alleged schemes that exploited relationships with brokers to drive up prices and tighten the secondary market. The case also reinforces critics' spotlight on the Eras Tour by Taylor Swift, which drew extensive public debate over ticket availability and pricing. Regulators are pursuing civil penalties and injunctions to curb what they describe as unlawful conduct.

Dan Coatsworth, an analyst at AJ Bell, said: "It is impossible to believe the UK would let the dominant promoter and ticket provider get away with dodgy practices if they've been outlawed in the US." The assertion underscores how the U.S. case could influence regulatory thinking on both sides of the Atlantic and heighten attention on UK oversight of ticketing and live-entertainment markets.

Beyond the U.S. suit, observers say the case could reverberate in the United Kingdom, where regulators have long scrutinized ticketing practices but have yet to take a comparable enforcement action against a dominant promoter. While no UK action has been announced, analysts note that the case aligns with a broader push to curb price gouging and anti-competitive behavior in professional live entertainment. Regulators in the U.S. are seeking remedies that could include injunctions to alter business practices and civil penalties, which, if imposed, could influence industry behavior globally.

As the case moves forward, investors will watch for any changes in how major venues and promoters coordinate with third-party brokers, the development of secondary-market controls, and potential shifts in consumer protections for fans buying tickets to high-demand events. The ticketing sector has faced intensified regulatory attention as fans report rising prices and limited seat availability in popular shows, prompting policymakers to re-examine the balance between promotion, venue economics, and consumer rights.