Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation are facing a new lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and seven US states, accusing them of working with ticket brokers to drive up ticket prices, making it harder for everyday fans to attend live events.
Filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California, the complaint claims that Ticketmaster allowed professional brokers to buy large numbers of tickets — even when artists placed strict limits on how many could be sold — only to resell them at higher prices.
These sales allegedly took place right on Ticketmaster's own platform.
In simple terms, the FTC says Ticketmaster made it seem like it was protecting fans from high prices and unfair buying practices, AP News reported.
But behind the scenes, the company reportedly helped brokers break the rules to make more money — and passed the extra cost onto fans.
"American live entertainment is the best in the world and should be accessible to all of us," said FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson. "It should not cost an arm and a leg to take the family to a baseball game or attend your favorite musician's show."
FTC is officially suing Ticketmaster
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) September 18, 2025
They're accusing them of deceptive pricing and letting brokers resell tickets illegally, costing fans billions of dollars in inflated prices and fees pic.twitter.com/Johz1j2k5X
Ticketmaster Accused of Bait-and-Switch Pricing in $83B Market
The lawsuit also accuses Ticketmaster of using "bait-and-switch" tactics — advertising lower ticket prices, only to surprise buyers with extra fees and inflated costs at checkout.
The FTC says this misleads consumers and breaks laws meant to protect buyers online.
According to CBS News, from 2019 to 2024, Americans spent nearly $83 billion on tickets through Ticketmaster, according to the FTC.
The company currently controls at least 80% of ticketing at major U.S. venues, giving it enormous power over how tickets are sold.
Attorneys general from Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia joined the lawsuit, calling for tougher rules on how tickets are sold and resold.
This isn't the first time Ticketmaster has faced heat. In 2022, the company came under fire for its handling of Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour," when bots and brokers overwhelmed the site, leaving many fans empty-handed.
Lawmakers held a hearing in 2023 to question Ticketmaster's practices, but little changed.
In May 2025, the Biden administration required ticket companies to display the full price — including fees — upfront, in an attempt to curb surprise charges.
Live Nation and Ticketmaster have not yet responded publicly to the new lawsuit.
Join the Conversation