US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Live Nation employee mocks customers as ‘so stupid’ in internal messages released in court case
Internal Slack messages reveal Live Nation staff bragging about raising ancillary fees and mocking customers, amid a $280 million settlement and ongoing state litigation over monopoly practices.
- On Wednesday, court filings showed Judge Arun Subramanian ordered the release of 2022 Slack messages between Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold in the case, after Live Nation argued they were irrelevant.
- The U.S. Department of Justice antitrust division filed its 2024 lawsuit against Live Nation, which sought to keep Slack exchanges sealed, claiming they were irrelevant and informal banter.
- Ben Baker, regional ticketing director, wrote 'I gouge them on ancil prices', boasting about charging $50 to park in the grass and $60 for closer grass while calling concertgoers 'these people are so stupid'.
- The settlement requires Live Nation to pay $200 million, open Ticketmaster tech to third parties, limit exclusivity, and cap amphitheater fees at 15%, but over two dozen states rejected it as inadequate.
- Plaintiff states argued the messages show Live Nation monetizes its amphitheater monopoly by imposing fees that degrade fan experience, and if unresolved, the trial could resume next week with ongoing state actions.
Insights by Ground AI
17 Articles
17 Articles
Associated Press News+3 Reposted by 3 other sources
Live Nation employee mocks customers as 'so stupid' in internal messages released in court case
Newly revealed incendiary messages in which a Live Nation employee mocks customers as “so stupid” and says the company is “robbing them blind, baby” are gaining public attention during an ongoing antitrust trial.
·United States
Read Full Article
Live Nation employees bragged about overcharging fans: ‘Robbing them blind, baby’
Ticketing employees at Live Nation bragged about the exorbitant fees they charged fans at concert venues, saying “these people are so stupid” that “I almost feel bad taking advantage of them,” according to court documents released Wednesday.
·New York, United States
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources17
Leaning Left11Leaning Right2Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution65% Left
Bias Distribution
- 65% of the sources lean Left
65% Left
L 65%
C 23%
12%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
