By Lauren Sporza, The Hill | The Justice Department is preparing to file a federal antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, according to multiple reports.
The Wall Street Journal first reported Monday that the Justice Department will be filing an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation in the coming weeks, citing people familiar with the matter. Live Nation and Ticketmaster have faced widespread public scrutiny for its dominance in the ticketing industry, which critics say has allowed them to raise prices on live entertainment.
Ticketmaster has also garnered national attention after its meltdown during singer Taylor Swift’s online presale, which prevented thousands of her fans from purchasing tickets for her “Eras Tour” in 2022. Since then, lawmakers have raised questions about Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, and whether it has engaged in anticompetitive practices.
The merger between concert promoter Live Nation and Ticketmaster was approved in 2010 by the Justice Department following an antitrust investigation. Live Nation has maintained that there is plenty of competition in the ticketing industry despite the concerns raised by lawmakers.
Live Nation declined to comment on the Wall Street Journal story when reached by The Hill.
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Read the full story here:
https://thehill.com/business/4596308-ticketmaster-to-face-federal-antitrust-lawsuit-reports/
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Colorado Considers Requiring Refunds for Canceled Events, Disclosing Ticket Fees Up Front
By Hannah Metzger, Westword
The next time Drake cancels a concert in Colorado, ticket purchasers will be legally guaranteed a refund — if a newly proposed bill becomes law.
House Bill 24-1378 would require event operators and ticket resellers to provide full refunds to customers who buy tickets for events that are later canceled. Customers would also get refunds if a ticket is counterfeit, not as advertised or does not grant the customer entrance to the event through no fault of their own.
In addition, the measure would prohibit raising prices once a ticket has been selected for purchase, selling a ticket without disclosing the total cost including fees and service charges, and using similar web designs or URLs to trick customers into thinking a reseller is an event’s official ticket seller. Under the bill, operators could not deny someone access to an event because they bought a ticket through a reseller.
“We’re trying to find a compromise that solves some of the problems that make it so difficult in this state to see a show or go to a sports game,” says Representative William Lindstedt, the bill’s sponsor.
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https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-lawmakers-consider-requiring-refunds-for-canceled-events-20354983
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Live Event Ticket Sales Bill Moves Forward at Colorado State Capitol
Author: Lauren Scafidi, 9News
DENVER — A new bill is making its way through the Colorado legislature that the sponsors say would protect consumers during event ticket sales.
Supporters say event ticket reform has been a long time coming, but Ticketmaster’s Taylor Swift ordeal was the last straw.
“You know I tried to buy Taylor Swift tickets for my fiancée and it was difficult,” said Democratic State Representative William Lindstedt, one of the bill’s co-sponsors.
So did 14 million other people ahead of the pop star’s Eras tour.
“Ticket buying in this state is broken and it needs some rules and regulations to protect consumers so they can go enjoy the things they want to go see,” said Lindstedt.
“It’s about time Colorado passes a bill like this,” said Brian Hess, the executive director of the Sports Fans Coalition.
Hess testified Wednesday at the Colorado State Capitol, demanding better for sports and live music fans.
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Read the full story here:
https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/local-politics/live-event-ticket-sales-bill-colorado/73-e176637f-0106-4f7e-b058-eda4a68f9e76
[Thanks to Alex Teitz for contributing these articles! http://www.femmusic.com]
April 18, 2024| Music-Related Business| Barb Dye