SALT LAKE CITY — Utah joined the Federal Trade Commission and a coalition of states in suing Live Nation and Ticketmaster, accusing the companies of deceiving consumers by hiding ticket fees and steering sales toward high-priced secondary markets.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges the ticketing giant misrepresented prices by displaying artificially low amounts until late in the checkout process, when mandatory fees inflated the total by an average of 24% to 44%.
From 2019 to 2024, consumers nationwide paid $16.4 billion in fees, generating more than $11 billion in revenue for Ticketmaster, according to the complaint. The suit also alleges Live Nation and Ticketmaster encouraged ticket brokers to bypass security limits, enabling them to resell millions of tickets at inflated prices.
“Anyone who has ever tried buying concert tickets, only to get hit with a pile of sneaky fees at the checkout, or perhaps even find out the show is actually ‘sold out,’ knows how frustrating it is to buy tickets with Ticketmaster or Live Nation. Today Utah says ‘no more,’” Utah Attorney General Derek Brown said.
Margaret Woolley Busse, executive director of the Utah Department of Commerce, said the state is committed to “protecting consumers from deceptive practices and unnecessary fees” and holding Live Nation and Ticketmaster accountable.
The Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Consumer Protection and the Office of the Utah Attorney General brought claims under the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act and the Better Online Ticket Sales Act. The complaint also cites violations of federal law.
Utah is joined in the enforcement action by Florida, Illinois, Virginia, Nebraska, Tennessee and Colorado.
While the case is being litigated in California, the outcome could affect Utahns from Cache Valley to St. George who have faced steep fees and ticket shortages when trying to see major performers.