Internal communications from two directors at Live Nation have surfaced, revealing their derisive attitude towards customers who pay inflated fees for live events. According to reports from Bloomberg and The New York Times, these messages were released as part of a federal antitrust lawsuit against the company. The directors, Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold, openly mocked concertgoers as “stupid” for accepting excessive charges, which they referred to as “ancillary fees” for services like parking and VIP access.
The exchanges, which took place on Slack in 2022, show Baker, who oversees ticketing for Venue Nation, and Weinhold, the senior ticketing director for the Washington, DC area, reveling in their ability to impose high fees. For a concert at a Virginian venue, Weinhold boasted about raising “VIP parking up to $250 lol,” while Baker remarked, “These people are so stupid. I almost feel bad taking advantage of them.”
The directors also discussed their success in profiting from “premier parking” fees, which generated approximately $666,000 at a single venue in 2021. Baker detailed how he charged “$50 to park in the grass” and “$60 for closer grass,” proudly declaring, “Robbing them blind, baby. That’s how we do.”
Antitrust Lawsuit and Public Reaction
Critics have long alleged that Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster engage in monopolistic practices. Following their merger in 2010, numerous lawmakers have questioned the legality of the combined entity’s market dominance. This sentiment has fueled a federal antitrust lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, which is backed by attorneys general from 39 states. The lawsuit claims that Live Nation maintains an illegal monopoly over the live events sector, allowing them to impose exorbitant ticket prices and fees, negatively impacting consumers, venues, and artists alike.
Last week, Live Nation sought to exclude the Slack messages from the ongoing trial, arguing they were merely “off-the-cuff banter” rather than indicative of company policy or significant facts. However, the presiding judge, Arun Subramanian, determined that the messages were relevant and ordered their release to the public, following requests from media outlets including Bloomberg and The New York Times.
As the trial progresses, Baker was scheduled to testify. However, the proceedings have been paused after the Justice Department reached an unexpected settlement with Live Nation on Monday. This development has surprised several states participating in the lawsuit, with approximately 27 state attorneys general now preparing to pursue their own cases against the company.
The revelations from these internal communications have reignited discussions about the ethics of pricing practices in the entertainment industry, raising significant concerns among consumers regarding the treatment they receive from major ticketing entities.
