Live Nation CEO Defends Ticketing Practices Amidst Antitrust Trial
Michael Rapino, the chief executive of Live Nation Entertainment, has taken the stand in a high-profile antitrust trial, facing accusations of alleged price-gouging tactics within the ticketing industry. The trial, which commenced in Manhattan federal court, centres on a lawsuit filed in 2024 by the U.S. Department of Justice and 40 states, accusing Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, of operating an illegal monopoly over live events across America.
Rapino, whose personal net worth is estimated to be at least $950 million, described the live entertainment ticketing landscape as akin to the “wild, wild west” prior to Live Nation’s consolidation of the market. He asserted that his company brought much-needed “business professionalism” to the sector, prompting competitors to adopt similar practices. “You want to build a better mousetrap than the other guys,” Rapino stated in his testimony. “We were ahead of the curve in owning ticketing, owning venues, and concert promotion.”
The companies have long faced significant criticism for their substantial service fees and a reputation for subpar customer service. Public outcry intensified in 2022 following widespread issues with the rollout of tickets for Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated, sold-out Eras tour.
During his testimony, Rapino was pressed by Jeffrey Kessler, an attorney representing the states, regarding escalating ticket prices and complaints from artists. He addressed concerns raised by artists like Adele, who, after experiencing ticketing issues for her 2015 North American tour, was reportedly denied the opportunity to sell tickets directly to fans through a third party, even when offering to absorb the ticketing fees herself.
Rapino refuted this account, stating, “We would never say no to Adele. We said no to the ticketing company trying to get free tickets.”
The court also examined a 2016 email where Rapino himself expressed concern over “high” ticketing costs, writing, “Our fees are too high. We can’t defend them.” When questioned about this statement, Rapino claimed he could not recall the email or its context, attributing it to a decade-old communication.
A significant point of contention arose when Kessler brought up internal messages, previously presented in court, where Live Nation employees allegedly boasted about “robbing” fans, whom they referred to as “stupid.” Court documents revealed a series of exchanges from 2022 between Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold, both regional ticketing directors for Live Nation amphitheaters.
In one instance, the two men discussed charging concertgoers $250 for VIP parking. Baker’s message read, “These people are so stupid, I almost feel bad taking advantage of them.”
In another exchange, Baker reportedly bragged about charging “$50 to park in the grass” and “$60 for closer grass,” adding, “Robbing them blind baby, that’s how we do it.” His colleague’s reply was simply “lol.” When discussing ticket sale prices, Baker wrote, “I gouge them on ancil [sic] prices to make up for it,” referring to ancillary fees – charges for additional services beyond the main ticket purchase, such as parking.
Live Nation issued a statement to the Daily Mail, indicating an investigation into the matter. “The Slack exchange from one junior staffer to a friend absolutely doesn’t reflect our values or how we operate,” the company stated. “Because this was a private Slack message, leadership learned of this when the public did, and will be looking into the matter promptly. Our business only works when fans have great experiences, which is why we’ve capped amphitheater venue fees at 15 percent and have invested $1 billion in the last 18 months into US venues and fan amenities.”
Responding to these internal messages in court, Rapino described them as “disgusting, and it’s not how we operate.” When asked about potential disciplinary action against Baker, Rapino stated, “I have it under review, and he has apologized. We like to give our employees a break, and we don’t fire easily.” According to filings reviewed by NBC News, Baker heads Venue Nation, a division of Live Nation responsible for operating the company’s amphitheaters.
Allegations of Contractual Coercion
Andrew Gass, representing Live Nation, also questioned Rapino regarding allegations that the company coerced venues and their owners into exclusive Ticketmaster contracts. Gass specifically inquired whether James Dolan, the owner of Madison Square Garden, was someone Live Nation could “push around.” Rapino responded, “Certainly not. I don’t tell a billionaire what to do with his venue. He tells me.”
The embattled CEO also denied claims that he threatened to withhold concerts from the Barclays Center in New York City after it opted for a competitor over Ticketmaster. Rapino reportedly stated in a call with former Barclays CEO John Abbamondi, “It’s going to be a tough time to deliver tickets or concerts with a new competitor in town, regardless of ticketing.” Two weeks prior, Abbamondi had testified that he interpreted this statement as a threat to redirect concerts to the UBS Arena and that Barclays experienced a “dramatic decline” in performances after severing ties with Ticketmaster. Rapino, however, maintained that he had “zero” intent to threaten the venue.
