Live Nation settles DC lawsuit for $9.9M

Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, has agreed to pay $9.9 million to settle a lawsuit with the District of Columbia over deceptive ticket pricing practices, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced Monday.

The settlement follows an investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) into allegations that Live Nation mislead customers about ticket prices, charged “deceptive fees” and used “illegal pressure tactics” to get fans to buy tickets, Schwalb’s office said in a release.

The OAG investigation found Nation concealed the full price of tickets until the consumer reached the checkout page, which presented the total with mandatory fees for the first time, violating consumer protection laws and limiting consumers’ ability to make informed purchasing choices.

The investigation also showed Live Nation did not adequately disclose the purpose of the often costly fees and used pressure tactics like a countdown clock that suggested tickets would be soon sold out.

Schwalb said these alleged practices took place for at least a decade, “taking advantage of DC residents buying tickets for their favorite team and pricing others out entirely.”

Under the settlement, up to $8.9 million of the settlement funds will be refunded to Live Nation customers, with more information on the claims process expected in the coming months.

Live Nation has already changed numerous practices in the wake of the investigation, and maintains it will show the full price of tickets, including mandatory fees, at the beginning of the ticket selection process. The company will also disclose more information about the ticket hold process, the OAG added.

The Hill reached out to LiveNation for comment.

The settlement comes less than a week after a Manhattan federal jury found Live Nation holds an illegal monopoly in the live entertainment industry and violated antitrust laws as part of a different suit.

The case alleged Live Nation’s monopoly pushed out smaller, competing promotors, disadvantaging artists and driving up prices for American consumers.

A week into the trial last month, the Trump administration announced it was settling its claims against Live Nation. The agreement required Live Nation to pay $280 million in civil penalties to the states involved in the case. The suit was originally filed in May 2024 under the Biden administration.

While some states joined the settlement, more than 30, including Schwalb, continued with the trial, arguing the federal government did not secure enough concessions from Live Nation.

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