Ticketmaster Faces U.S. Lawsuit Over Resale Tactics, UK Scrutiny Looms

WASHINGTON — The Federal Trade Commission and seven states filed a lawsuit Thursday against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, alleging the live-events giant engaged in anti-competitive practices by coordinating with ticket brokers to purchase large blocks of tickets and resell them at substantial markups, in violation of consumer protection laws.

Regulators say the conduct limited competition and harmed fans by keeping prices higher and ticket access more restricted. The action highlights Ticketmaster’s dominant position in the market: the company is described as controlling about 80% of major venues’ primary-sales channels, a share that critics say gives it outsized influence over pricing and distribution. The lawsuit also follows renewed scrutiny of how Ticketmaster handled high-demand releases, including Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, which drew widespread criticism over price spikes and distribution decisions.

The complaint, brought by the FTC along with seven U.S. states, accuses Ticketmaster and Live Nation of engaging in a pattern of coordination with secondary brokers to buy tickets and then resell them at a profit well above face value. Regulators describe the actions as a deliberate attempt to undermine competitive outcomes in the ticketing market and to extract higher prices from fans who are eager to attend in-demand shows.

Observers say the case could have ramifications beyond the United States. The heightened attention on resale practices has prompted analysts to consider how regulators in other regions, including the United Kingdom, might respond if the US action proves enduring and substantiated. Dan Coatsworth, an analyst at AJ Bell, said it is difficult to imagine the UK allowing dominant promoters and ticket providers to engage in similar practices if they are deemed unlawful in the United States.

The Ticketmaster dispute sits at the intersection of competition policy and consumer protection in a market characterized by surging live-event demand, limited legitimate inventory, and a growing reliance on digital platforms for resale. While Ticketmaster has long justified its ticketing pipeline as a practical system for managing high volumes of demand, critics argue that the overlap with resale channels can create incentives to limit supply or escalate prices for high-demand shows.

For now, the legal challenge centers on whether a vertically integrated promoter and ticketing platform can also coordinate with third-party brokers in ways that effectively restrict competition and raise prices for fans. The filing outlines allegations that, if proven, would reflect a broader pattern of conduct intended to dampen rivalry in the primary ticket market and extract higher margins from concertgoers.

As regulators lay out their case, industry players and observers will be watching closely for any regulatory spillover effects, including potential changes to distribution rules, transparency requirements, or consent mechanisms around ticket sourcing and aftermarket resale. The situation underscores ongoing debates about how best to balance consumer protection with the realities of popular, high-demand live entertainment in a digital age.