politics
April 3, 2026
US senators rebuke Ticketmaster for raising fees after hidden charge crackdown: ‘Bait and switch’
Richard Blumenthal says company acts like it has ‘get-out-of-jail-free card’ as records show it upping fees to cut losses
TL;DR
- Senators are criticizing Ticketmaster for allegedly raising ticket fees after a regulatory crackdown on hidden charges.
- Documents obtained by The Guardian indicate Ticketmaster increased other fees to compensate for eliminating the order processing fee, as required by the FTC's all-in pricing rule.
- Former regulators suggest these practices may violate the FTC's ban on misleading fees.
- Senator Richard Blumenthal accused Ticketmaster of acting as if it has a "get-out-of-jail-free card" regarding antitrust and consumer protection laws.
- The FTC previously sued Ticketmaster and Live Nation for hiding mandatory fees, a claim Ticketmaster disputes, stating compliance with all-in pricing rules.
- A report by Blumenthal's subcommittee indicated Ticketmaster drove up ticket costs post-pandemic through practices like prioritizing resale markets and dynamic pricing.
- An ongoing federal trial is examining whether Ticketmaster operates an illegal monopoly in the live music industry.
- Senator Elizabeth Warren stated that Ticketmaster needs to be "broken up" due to its monopolistic practices, citing the recent reporting as further justification.
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