The Blubber

Ticketmaster, long criticized for hidden fees and other customer frustrations, is among the businesses targeted by a new rule from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced in December. The rule mandates that companies like ticketing platforms, hotels, and vacation rental services must clearly disclose processing, cleaning, and other fees upfront.

Ticketmaster expressed support for the FTC’s initiative.

“Ticketmaster has long supported nationwide adoption of all-in pricing so fans can more easily compare ticket costs across platforms,” said Michael Wichser, the company’s Chief Operating Officer, in a statement.

The company also announced several updates to improve transparency and user experience. Customers logging in to buy tickets will now see their place in line, and those waiting longer than 30 minutes will receive live updates on ticket availability, pricing ranges, and any newly added event dates.

Owned by Beverly Hills-based Live Nation, Ticketmaster is the world’s largest ticket seller, processing about 500 million tickets annually across more than 30 countries. In the U.S., the company handles roughly 70% of tickets for major concert venues.

Monday’s changes are intended to bring North America in line with global standards, where upfront pricing is more common.

SeatGeek, another ticketing platform for both original and resale tickets, also rolled out similar updates Monday, making all-in pricing the default view.

“Fans deserve upfront, clear pricing,” said Jack Groetzinger, SeatGeek’s CEO. “We’re glad to be moving in that direction alongside others in the industry.”

Ticketmaster has faced increased scrutiny since 2022, when its website crashed during a Taylor Swift presale. The company blamed overwhelming demand and bot attacks, which resulted in thousands of fans losing tickets after long wait times.

That incident drew further attention to Ticketmaster’s dominance. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation, alleging the two operate an illegal monopoly that inflates ticket prices. The DOJ is seeking to break the companies apart — a legal battle that remains ongoing.

President Donald Trump has also taken interest in the issue. In March, he signed an executive order aimed at cracking down on ticket scalping and improving price transparency for live events. The order directs the FTC to enforce clear pricing at every stage of the ticket-buying process and to take action against deceptive or anti-competitive behavior.