US EditionLive Nation is supporting two California bills to lower prices. Can fans trust it?
The measures would limit resale markups to 10% and ban speculative listings, while critics say Live Nation’s support could strengthen Ticketmaster’s market power.
- Democratic Assemblymembers Issac Bryan and Matt Haney are advancing two bills to curb predatory ticket practices, both backed by Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster.
- Haney said artists and independent venues are being "screwed over and exploited" by scalpers and brokers; tickets for SZA at Crypto Arena surged from $35 to $600 before official sales.
- Assembly Bill 1720, the California Fans First Act, caps resale markups at 10%, while Bryan's Assembly Bill 1349 prohibits selling speculative tickets not owned by the lister.
- Opponents including Robert Herrell of the Consumer Federation of California argue the bills grant Live Nation monopoly power; StubHub's Jack Sterne wrote the laws "hand the Ticketmaster monopoly more power."
- The legislation passed Assembly committees last week with bipartisan support, even as a federal jury found Live Nation illegally acted as a monopoly; the company awaits penalties.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Critics cry foul as Live Nation-backed ticket bills roll through Sacramento
Sacramento Democrats are pushing a pair of “consumer protection” ticketing bills — but critics say the real winner could be the same powerhouse already accused of dominating the market: Live Nation.
Cal Matters
Live Nation is supporting two California bills to lower prices. Can fans trust it?
In summary Bruno Mars tickets running for $2,000 and ones for SZA costing $600 caught California lawmakers’ attention. They’re advancing two bills targeting the resale market. Earlier this year, tickets to see SZA perform at the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles were selling for $600 the day before they officially went on sale at $35 a piece. In San Francisco, tickets to see Sam Smith at the newly renovated Castro Theater went on sale for $120, only t…
Live Nation is supporting two California bills to lower ticket prices. Can fans trust it?
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for its newsletters. Earlier this year, tickets to see SZA perform at the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles were selling for $600 the day before they officially went on sale at $35 a piece. In San Francisco, tickets to see Sam Smith at the newly renovated Castro Theater went on sale for $120, only to be quickly snatched up by scalpers and resold for upward of $600. Those are some of the stori…
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