A pair of Live Nation employees joked about “gouging” fans with fees and parking costs at concerts, further adding that these concertgoers are “so stupid” and that Live Nation is “robbing them blind, baby,” according to private messages released as court documents as part of Live Nation’s monopoly lawsuit.
The messages, which were sent in 2022 between Live Nation employees Ben Baker and and Jeff Weinhold, were shared Wednesday as exhibits in the government’s case against the live music giant, after Live Nation had argued the documents weren’t relevant to the case. The plaintiff states, however, argued that it reflects Live Nation’s monopoly power as artists don’t want to gouge their fans, but Live Nation is able to “degrade the fan experience by charging excessive prices for ancillary services without fear of artists switching away.”
In a statement, Live Nation said “the Slack exchange from one junior staffer to a friend absolutely doesn’t reflect our values or how we operate.”
“Because this was a private Slack message, leadership learned of this when the public did, and will be looking into the matter promptly,” the representative said. “Our business only works when fans have great experiences, which is why we’ve capped amphitheater venue fees at 15 percent and have invested $1 billion in the last 18 months into U.S. venues and fan amenities.”
Among the most notable messages revealed in the court documents, back in 2022, Baker, who oversees ticketing for Live Nation’s venue nation unit, called some increased prices “fucking outrageous,” with Weinhold replying that “I have VIP parking up to $250 lol.”
“I almost feel bad taking advantage of them,” Baker replied.
In another exchange, Baker shared a screenshot of premier parking costs, further stating “robbing them, blind, baby, that’s how we do.” Later in the exchange, Baker said, “I gouge them on ancil prices to make up for it,” referring to extra ancillary fees on more standard tickets.
The documents including the exchanges were filed days after Live Nation and the Department of Justice agreed to a settlement over the case on Monday. When the DOJ had first sued the company back in 2024, the department had called to break up Live Nation’s eponymous concert promoter from ticketing giant Ticketmaster.
The settlement doesn’t call for a breakup but includes concessions including opening some of Ticketmaster’s tech to other ticketing platforms, as well as Live Nation divesting its exclusive operation of 13 amphitheaters across the country. Live Nation is also capping fees at its amphitheaters at 15 percent, and it agreed to pay as much as $280 million, which reflects the damages states had reported in the original complaint.
While the DOJ itself has settled, Live Nation has to settle with the remaining 39 states and the District of Columbia that sued the company as well. Assuming Live Nation doesn’t settle with all the remaining plaintiffs, the case is expected to resume next week.
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