Live Nation will pay $9.9 million to the District of Columbia after an investigation found the company misled customers with hidden fees and deceptive ticket pricing practices, D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb announced on April 20.
The agreement requires Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, to return up to $8.9 million to customers and continue changes that now require full ticket prices to be shown at the start of the buying process. Officials said the case focused on how fans were charged for tickets over the past decade, including the use of hidden fees and misleading sales tactics.
“For at least a decade, Live Nation and Ticketmaster boosted profits by charging predatory, hidden fees — taking advantage of D.C. residents buying tickets for their favorite artist or team and pricing others out entirely,” Schwalb said. “With this settlement, we’re putting millions of dollars back into the pockets of D.C. fans and ensuring that the price fans see when they first start shopping for tickets is the price they actually pay.”
Investigators found that from 2015 through May 2025, the company advertised ticket prices that did not include mandatory fees, revealing the full cost only at checkout after consumers had already selected seats. Officials said that practice limited consumers’ ability to compare prices and make informed decisions.
“Live Nation has raked in billions in profits from an illegal monopoly that coerces venues, restricts artists, and exploits fans,” Schwalb said following the verdict last week. “The District’s live entertainment industry is critical to our local economy and culture, and this is a significant win in the fight for fairness for local venues, artists, and fans.”
The nation’s capital played a central role in the case. Washington is home to more than 20 music venues, ranging from small clubs to major arenas, including Capital One Arena. According to evidence presented during the trial, the city records some of the highest per-capita Ticketmaster ticket sales in the country. Officials argued that Live Nation’s control over both artists and ticketing meant that many venues in the region had few viable alternatives, driving up costs for consumers.
The District also determined that Live Nation failed to clearly explain the purpose of its fees or how those charges were distributed. In addition, the company used pressure tactics, including countdown timers and pop-up messages warning that tickets were selling fast regardless of actual demand. Users who paused during checkout were urged to act quickly, creating a false sense of urgency.
During the trial, attorneys for the states argued that Live Nation used its dominance in concert promotion to pressure venues into using Ticketmaster, warning that failure to comply could jeopardize access to major tours. They also argued that artists were effectively blocked from performing at key amphitheaters unless they agreed to work with Live Nation as a promoter.
Live Nation denied those claims, maintaining that it operates in a competitive marketplace and wins business based on performance rather than coercion.
“We are fierce competitors,” company attorney David R. Marriott told jurors in closing arguments. “We are trying to win the business.”
Under the agreement, Live Nation must continue showing the full price of tickets, including mandatory fees, throughout the purchasing process. The company has also agreed to provide clearer information about fees and explain how ticket hold timers work when customers are completing purchases. A claims process for refunds will be announced in the coming months.
The settlement follows a federal jury verdict in New York that found Live Nation violated antitrust laws by operating as an illegal monopoly in the live entertainment and ticketing industry. Jurors concluded that the company overcharged consumers and used its position to dominate key parts of the market.
The jury determined that Ticketmaster added an average of $1.72 in excess fees per ticket. Judge Arun Subramanian will decide financial penalties and possible remedies in a separate proceeding, which could include structural changes to the company’s business.
“Live Nation has raked in billions in profits from an illegal monopoly that coerces venues, restricts artists, and exploits fans,” Schwalb said after the verdict. “The District’s live entertainment industry is critical to our local economy and culture, and this is a significant win in the fight for fairness for local venues, artists, and fans.”
