Listen to the article
In a dramatic turn of events for the ongoing antitrust trial against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, inflammatory internal messages from a company employee have been made public, potentially strengthening the government’s case against the entertainment giant.
The messages, exchanged on the workplace platform Slack between late 2021 and early 2023, show a Live Nation employee mocking customers as “so stupid” while boasting about “robbing them blind” through high-priced VIP offerings. Government lawyers highlighted these communications in a court filing Wednesday, arguing they should be admitted as evidence in the Manhattan federal court trial.
In one exchange regarding VIP area pricing at Tampa’s MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, regional ticketing director Ben Baker wrote that the prices were “outrageous” and that “these people are so stupid.” He continued, “I almost feel bad taking advantage of them” before adding “BAHAHAHAHAHA.” Baker has since been promoted to head of ticketing for Venue Nation, overseeing all of Live Nation’s venues.
Live Nation attorneys are fighting to keep these messages out of the trial, dismissing them as “off-the-cuff banter, not policy” between personal friends who don’t work together. The company claims the exchanges refer only to “non-ticket ancillary products” like VIP access, premier parking, and lawn chair rentals – not the core ticketing services at issue in the antitrust case.
In a statement Thursday, Live Nation distanced itself from the comments, saying they “absolutely don’t reflect our values or how we operate” and adding that leadership only learned of the messages when they became public. The company promised to “look into the matter promptly.”
The federal government and 39 states, along with the District of Columbia, have alleged that Live Nation and Ticketmaster have stifled competition and driven up prices through threats, retaliation, and other anticompetitive tactics. The plaintiffs argue the companies have effectively monopolized the live entertainment industry by controlling everything from concert promotion to ticketing.
Live Nation has consistently denied these allegations, insisting that artists, sports teams, and venues – not Ticketmaster – set prices and determine how tickets are sold.
The trial’s future remains uncertain after the federal government announced a settlement with Live Nation earlier this week. The proposed deal would require Live Nation to give competitors access to ticket sales they are currently excluded from, potentially opening the market to more competition.
However, more than two dozen states are not satisfied with this settlement and have asked for the current trial to be scrapped in favor of selecting a new jury in the coming weeks. The original jury, which began hearing evidence last week, has been told to stay home this week as parties negotiate.
Judge Arun Subramanian has encouraged the states and Live Nation to continue settlement talks before reporting back on Friday. A Live Nation attorney indicated at a court hearing Tuesday that a quick agreement with all states was unlikely.
The release of the controversial Slack messages came after media outlets including Bloomberg News, The New York Times, MLex, and Inner City Press requested their disclosure.
In a letter to the judge on Thursday, a lawyer representing the states indicated that the trial would likely resume, emphasizing that a ruling on whether the Slack messages can be presented to the jury would have a “material impact” on which witnesses they call as they “prepare to resume trial next week.”
The case highlights growing scrutiny of the live entertainment industry’s pricing practices and competitive landscape, particularly following high-profile incidents like the 2022 Taylor Swift tour ticket debacle, which brought Ticketmaster’s market dominance into the national spotlight. The outcome could potentially reshape how concerts are promoted and ticketed across the United States.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
6 Comments
It’s disappointing but not entirely unexpected to see this level of disdain for customers coming from a Live Nation employee. The company has faced numerous complaints about its pricing and practices over the years.
This is further evidence that Live Nation engages in unethical and anti-consumer practices. Their employees shouldn’t be openly mocking and taking advantage of customers. This reflects very poorly on the company’s culture and values.
This is quite concerning. If these messages reflect the company’s true attitude towards customers, it’s a serious breach of trust. Customers deserve to be treated with respect, not mocked as ‘so stupid’.
I’m not surprised to see this kind of behavior from a major entertainment company like Live Nation. They have a history of anti-consumer practices and prioritizing profits over customer experience.
Absolutely. These leaked messages confirm what many have long suspected about Live Nation’s predatory business tactics. Hopefully this case will bring about much-needed reforms in the ticketing industry.
While the language used by the Live Nation employee is certainly unprofessional, I’m not entirely surprised by the revelation. The company has long been accused of monopolistic behavior and exploiting its customers.