It is broken because the LNE/TM monopoly controls it all – from artist management to promotion to venues to ticketing.

Venues sell tickets, but due to LNE/TM’s dominance, they have little choice in which ticketing vendor to use. Ticketmaster controls an estimated 80% of primary ticket sales in the United States and is one of the largest players in the resale marketplace. 

LNE/TM also places transfer and resale restrictions on tickets fans have purchased in order to to edge out competition.

Yes. Lack of competition benefits the monopoly at the expense of fans, who are faced with higher prices and less access to events. Since LNE/TM merged in 2010, ticket prices have increased 140% when adjusted for inflation. 

Buying tickets can be a frustrating process for fans who face long waits in queues and sites that crash. And if they are lucky enough to get a ticket, California fans are not guaranteed the right to donate, gift, or sell their tickets unless permitted by the original ticket seller.

The number one thing we can do to fix live event ticketing is to increase competition. This will incentivize ticket sellers to improve the fan experience through better service, more transparency, and lower fees. 

Fans should have enhanced rights that ensure they have control over tickets they have rightfully purchased. 

We should also create a system so that every ticket sold or resold by participating retail platforms can be verified by a single source. Verification will help address incidents of fraud and speculative ticket sales, and create a more connected marketplace to fight illegal bots.

In 2010, 50 members of the US House opposed the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, citing concerns over creating a live event monopoly. With consumers facing the fallout from a lack of competition in the marketplace, both the United States Dept. of Justice and Congress are investigating LNE/TM for anti-competitive and anti-consumer practices.