The US Justice Division and the Federal Commerce Fee (FTC) have collectively launched a public inquiry to determine “unfair and anticompetitive practices and conduct within the dwell live performance and leisure business”.
The 2 authorities businesses are inviting members of the general public to submit feedback and data on “dangerous practices and on potential regulation or laws to guard customers within the business”.
The Businesses stated on Wednesday (Might 7) that they’ll use the data of their preparation of the report and suggestions directed by Donald Trump’s Government Order on “Combating Unfair Practices within the Reside Leisure Market”.
Trump issued the Government Order (No. 14254) on March 31. It directs the Legal professional Common and the FTC to “be certain that competitors legal guidelines are appropriately enforced within the live performance and leisure business.”
The Government Order additionally directs the FTC to “rigorously implement the Higher On-line Tickets Gross sales Act, 15 U.S.C. 45c.”
Moreover, the Government Order directs the Legal professional Common, with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Chairman of the FTC, to submit a report that identifies “suggestions for laws or laws obligatory to guard customers” within the business.
The businesses stated on Wednesday that they’ll collaborate with the Secretary of the Treasury on a joint report, with the FTC taking the lead on points associated to the Higher On-line Ticket Gross sales Act.
The businesses are actually searching for info from the general public about “unfair and anticompetitive conduct and practices within the dwell live performance and leisure business.”
The businesses stated on Wednesday that they “encourage feedback offering info on the aggressive results of present state and federal laws and legal guidelines within the dwell live performance and leisure business, together with the secondary ticketing market”.
The general public may have 60 days to submit feedback, no later than July 6, 2025.
The DOJ and FTC stated on Wednesday that “all market individuals’ are invited to supply feedback, together with customers, artists, small companies, commerce teams, business analysts, and different entities which can be “impacted by anticompetitive practices within the dwell live performance and leisure business”.
“Aggressive dwell leisure markets ought to ship worth to artists and followers alike.”
Abigail Slater, DOJ
“Aggressive dwell leisure markets ought to ship worth to artists and followers alike,” stated Assistant Legal professional Common Abigail Slater of the Justice Division’s Antitrust Division.
“We are going to proceed to carefully look at this market and search for alternatives the place vigorous enforcement of the antitrust legal guidelines can result in elevated competitors that makes tickets extra inexpensive for followers whereas providing fairer compensation for artists.”
“President Trump has despatched a transparent message that unhealthy actors who exploit followers and deform {the marketplace} won’t be tolerated.”
Andrew N. Ferguson, FTC
FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson added: “Many People really feel like they’re being priced out of dwell leisure by scalpers, bots, and different unfair and misleading practices.
“Now their voices are being heard. President Trump has despatched a transparent message that unhealthy actors who exploit followers and deform {the marketplace} won’t be tolerated.
“The FTC is proud to assist ship on that promise and restore truthful and aggressive markets that profit atypical People.”
Individually, the DOJ, together with 40 state and district attorneys basic, can be at the moment litigating a civil antitrust lawsuit introduced final 12 months towards Reside Nation Leisure Inc. and its ticketing division, Ticketmaster LLC, for alleged “monopolization” within the dwell leisure business.Music Enterprise Worldwide
