Latest news with #BetterOnlineTicketsSalesAct
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
DOJ, FTC open inquiry into the concert industry
The Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission have announced a public inquiry into the live music industry's business practices and issues facing consumers. The inquiry comes a month after an executive order from President Trump — issued on the advice of Kid Rock — to combat ticket scalpers, and ordered the government to seek comment from stakeholders across the music industry. The order asked for a report from both federal agencies in six months' time. The DOJ said in its announcement that "The Executive Order directs the Attorney General and the FTC to 'ensure that competition laws are appropriately enforced in the concert and entertainment industry.' The Executive Order also directs the FTC to 'rigorously enforce the Better Online Tickets Sales Act.' The Executive Order also directs the Attorney General, with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Chairman of the FTC, to submit a report that identifies 'recommendations for regulations or legislation necessary to protect consumers' in the industry." "The agencies therefore seek information from the public about unfair and anti-competitive conduct and practices in the live concert and entertainment industry," it continued. Read more: Justice Department sues Live Nation, Ticketmaster over their 'stranglehold' on concert ticket industry In a statement, Asst. Atty. Gen. Abigail Slater, of the Justice Department's antitrust division, said, 'Competitive live entertainment markets should deliver value to artists and fans alike. We will continue to closely examine this market and look for opportunities where vigorous enforcement of the antitrust laws can lead to increased competition that makes tickets more affordable for fans while offering fairer compensation for artists.' FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson added, 'Many Americans feel like they are being priced out of live entertainment by scalpers, bots, and other unfair and deceptive practices. Now their voices are being heard. President Trump has sent a clear message that bad actors who exploit fans and distort the marketplace will not be tolerated. The FTC is proud to help deliver on that promise and restore fair and competitive markets that benefit ordinary Americans.' The public will have two months to submit comment about their experiences in the live music market to Read more: Live Nation settles lawsuit over claims it misled investors about legal risks The news comes almost a year after the DOJ and 40 states announced a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation that accused the concert giant of acting as a monopoly, abusing the vertically-integrated structure of its merger with Ticketmaster. The suit seeks to break up the company. "It is also absurd to claim that Live Nation and Ticketmaster wield monopoly power," wrote Dan Wall, Live Nation Entertainment's executive vice president for corporate and regulatory affairs, at the time of the suit. "DOJ is not helping consumers with their actual problems. This is why the government has never been less popular — because they pretend they are fixing your problems when instead they are pandering to a narrow set of political interests." Read more: How Ticketmaster became the most hated name in music The central questions of how to remedy high resale ticket prices, scalping and anti-competitive practices at concert giants like Live Nation are complex. Yet while the DOJ's suit began under the Biden administration, this announcement suggests those regulatory efforts will continue in some fashion under President Trump. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Feds seek info on ‘unfair,' ‘anticompetitive' practices in live entertainment industry
Business Feds seek info on 'unfair,' 'anticompetitive' practices in live entertainment industry May 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. government seeks information from Americans about practices or conduct deemed "anticompetitive" in the entertainment industry, officials announced Wednesday in a public inquiry. The U.S. Justice Department will "continue to closely examine this market and look for opportunities where vigorous enforcement of the antitrust laws can lead to increased competition that makes tickets more affordable for fans while offering fairer compensation for artists," U.S. Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the department's Antitrust Division said in a release. DOJ and the Federal Trade Commission launched its joint inquiry to identify "unfair and anticompetitive" practices, conduct or ticket marketing in the live concert and entertainment industry as part of an executive order signed March 31 by U.S. President Donald Trump that targeted unfair practices in the live entertainment market. Trump's order, signed during an Oval Office event with musician Kid Rock, directed Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FTC chair to "ensure that competition laws are appropriately enforced" in the concert and entertainment industry. It further directs the FTC to "rigorously enforce" the 2016 Obama-era Better Online Tickets Sales Act, and also directed Bondi, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and the FTC chair to identify specific legislative or regulatory solutions. The BOTS Act allows the FTC to go against individuals and companies utilizing bots to buy concert tickets in bulk and resell them, and eliminated the practice of excess ticket scalping that raises prices for sporting events or theater shows. "Many Americans feel like they are being priced out of live entertainment by scalpers, bots and other unfair and deceptive practices," FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said Wednesday. Meanwhile, the federal agencies invited U.S. citizens to submit public comment and other information on "harmful practices" and potential regulation or legislation to protect consumers, which officials say will be used to ready a report for the White House with listed recommendations. Officials pointed to U.S. consumers, artists, small businesses, trade groups, industry analysts as scores of other entities invited to give feedback to authorities as affected groups by perceived anticompetitive practices in the industry. The federal government, along with 40 state and district attorneys general, is currently litigating a civil antitrust lawsuit brought on in 2024 againstLive Nation Entertainment's subsidiary Ticketmaster for alleged "monopolization" and other "unlawful conduct" that allegedly thwarted competition in markets across America's live entertainment markets. The public, meanwhile, will have 60 days to submit comments no later than July 6. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved. This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 5:07 PM.
Los Angeles Times
07-05-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
DOJ, FTC open inquiry into the concert industry
The headquarters of Live Nation is seen near Beverly Hills City Hall. The Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission have announced a public inquiry into the live music industry's business practices and issues facing consumers. The inquiry comes a month after an executive order from President Trump — issued on the advice of Kid Rock — to combat ticket scalpers, and ordered the government to seek comment from stakeholders across the music industry. The order asked for a report from both federal agencies in six months' time. The DOJ said in its announcement that 'The Executive Order directs the Attorney General and the FTC to 'ensure that competition laws are appropriately enforced in the concert and entertainment industry.' The Executive Order also directs the FTC to 'rigorously enforce the Better Online Tickets Sales Act.' The Executive Order also directs the Attorney General, with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Chairman of the FTC, to submit a report that identifies 'recommendations for regulations or legislation necessary to protect consumers' in the industry.' 'The agencies therefore seek information from the public about unfair and anti-competitive conduct and practices in the live concert and entertainment industry,' it continued. In a statement, Asst. Atty. Gen. Abigail Slater, of the Justice Department's antitrust division, said, 'Competitive live entertainment markets should deliver value to artists and fans alike. We will continue to closely examine this market and look for opportunities where vigorous enforcement of the antitrust laws can lead to increased competition that makes tickets more affordable for fans while offering fairer compensation for artists.' FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson added, 'Many Americans feel like they are being priced out of live entertainment by scalpers, bots, and other unfair and deceptive practices. Now their voices are being heard. President Trump has sent a clear message that bad actors who exploit fans and distort the marketplace will not be tolerated. The FTC is proud to help deliver on that promise and restore fair and competitive markets that benefit ordinary Americans.' The public will have two months to submit comment about their experiences in the live music market to The news comes almost a year after the DOJ and 40 states announced a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation that accused the concert giant of acting as a monopoly, abusing the vertically-integrated structure of its merger with Ticketmaster. The suit seeks to break up the company. 'It is also absurd to claim that Live Nation and Ticketmaster wield monopoly power,' wrote Dan Wall, Live Nation Entertainment's executive vice president for corporate and regulatory affairs, at the time of the suit. 'DOJ is not helping consumers with their actual problems. This is why the government has never been less popular — because they pretend they are fixing your problems when instead they are pandering to a narrow set of political interests.' The central questions of how to remedy high resale ticket prices, scalping and anti-competitive practices at concert giants like Live Nation are complex. Yet while the DOJ's suit began under the Biden administration, this announcement suggests those regulatory efforts will continue in some fashion under President Trump.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Feds seek info on 'unfair,' 'anticompetitive' practices in live entertainment industry
May 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. government seeks information from Americans about practices or conduct deemed "anticompetitive" in the entertainment industry, officials announced Wednesday in a public inquiry. The U.S. Justice Department will "continue to closely examine this market and look for opportunities where vigorous enforcement of the antitrust laws can lead to increased competition that makes tickets more affordable for fans while offering fairer compensation for artists," U.S. Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the department's Antitrust Division said in a release. DOJ and the Federal Trade Commission launched its joint inquiry to identify "unfair and anticompetitive" practices, conduct or ticket marketing in the live concert and entertainment industry as part of an executive order signed March 31 by U.S. President Donald Trump that targeted unfair practices in the live entertainment market. Trump's order, signed during an Oval Office event with musician Kid Rock, directed Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FTC chair to "ensure that competition laws are appropriately enforced" in the concert and entertainment industry. It further directs the FTC to "rigorously enforce" the 2016 Obama-era Better Online Tickets Sales Act, and also directed Bondi, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and the FTC chair to identify specific legislative or regulatory solutions. Entertainer Kid Rock (L) looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order on March 31 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C. Trump's order directed the Federal Trade Commission to work with the U.S. Department of Justice to ensure competition laws are enforced in the concert and entertainment industry, and pushes state consumer protection authorities on enforcement. File Photo by Al Drago/UPI The BOTS Act allows the FTC to go against individuals and companies utilizing bots to buy concert tickets in bulk and resell them, and eliminated the practice of excess ticket scalping that raises prices for sporting events or theater shows. "Many Americans feel like they are being priced out of live entertainment by scalpers, bots and other unfair and deceptive practices," FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said Wednesday. Meanwhile, the federal agencies invited U.S. citizens to submit public comment and other information on "harmful practices" and potential regulation or legislation to protect consumers, which officials say will be used to ready a report for the White House with listed recommendations. Officials pointed to U.S. consumers, artists, small businesses, trade groups, industry analysts as scores of other entities invited to give feedback to authorities as affected groups by perceived anticompetitive practices in the industry. The federal government, along with 40 state and district attorneys general, is currently litigating a civil antitrust lawsuit brought on in 2024 against Live Nation Entertainment's subsidiary Ticketmaster for alleged "monopolization" and other "unlawful conduct" that allegedly thwarted competition in markets across America's live entertainment markets. The public, meanwhile, will have 60 days to submit comments no later than July 6.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DOJ And FTC Take Public Comments In Inquiry Of Live Concert Ticketing Market
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission have launched a public comment period in their inquiry into unfair and uncompetitive practices in ticketing in the live concert and event business. Public comments are being taken online, with a deadline of July 6. More from Deadline Donald Trump signed an executive order in March, ombating Unfair Practices in the Live Entertainment Market, that directed that the DOJ and the FTC ensured 'that competition laws are appropriately enforced in the concert and entertainment industry.' The executive order also directed the FTC to ensure enforcement of the Better Online Tickets Sales Act, which restricts the resale of tickets that were purchased via bots. The DOJ and the FTC, as well as the secretary of the treasury, were directed to submit recommendations on potential regulation and legislation. 'Competitive live entertainment markets should deliver value to artists and fans alike,' Gail Slater, who heads the DOJ's Antitrust Division. 'We will continue to closely examine this market and look for opportunities where vigorous enforcement of the antitrust laws can lead to increased competition that makes tickets more affordable for fans while offering fairer compensation for artists.' FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said, 'Many Americans feel like they are being priced out of live entertainment by scalpers, bots, and other unfair and deceptive practices.' The DOJ and state attorneys general filed suit last year against Live Nation-Ticketmaster, alleging that the company has a monopoly in live entertainment that has thwarted competition. In response, Live Nation issued called the lawsuit allegations 'baseless' and said, 'Calling Ticketmaster a monopoly may be a PR win for the DOJ in the short term, but it will lose in court because it ignores the basic economics of live entertainment, such as the fact that the bulk of service fees go to venues, and that competition has steadily eroded Ticketmaster's market share and profit margin.' Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
