Shocking Employee Messages are Reason Live Nation Trial Must Proceed

In a Federal courtroom in Manhattan, perhaps the most consequential action affecting live music in the last 15 years is taking place.

It’s the trial of Live Nation, who was sued by the United States Justice Department and some 40 state attorney generals for being a monopoly. Not only is Live Nation the biggest concert promoter in the world, but the company also owns the biggest ticketing system in Ticketmaster, as well as scores of venues big and small, multiple festivals, while also managing artists and other musical assets.

On February 28th, a jury trial commenced in Manhattan to decide the fate of Live Nation and Ticketmaster. But amid the trial, a backroom settlement deal was struck with the Justice Department that potentially could allow Live Nation to walk away with a veritable slap on the wrist of only having to give into some minor concessions, and pay a fine of $280 million—the revenue the company makes in roughly five days of operation.

Luckily, at least 26 separate state attorney generals have rejected the deal after most weren’t even notified about it, and even judge Arun Subramanian said that it was “entirely unacceptable” he wasn’t informed about the deal as it was being negotiated. Due to these circumstances, the judge has decided to allow the trial to move forward, even if its prospects might be more difficult now with the Justice Department plea deal to navigate around.

But beyond allowing a jury of our peers to decide the fate of Live Nation as opposed to a backroom deal, the other reason this trial needs to move forward is to finally expose the kind of behavior and corruption at the heart of the Live Nation business, and why it’s been so subversive for live music in the United States.

On Wednesday (3-11), Slack messages between two Live Nation employees illustrate the kind of callous and egregious perspective the company seems to have for everyday consumers, especially when it comes to the company’s fees.

The 2022 Slack messages between Live Nation employees Ben Baker and and Jeff Weinhold find the two bragging about taking advantage of customers with exorbitant fees. Some of the messages read:

“These people are so stupid. I almost feel bad for taking advantage of them.”

“Robbing them blind, baby. That’s how we do it.”

“Charging ‘$50 to park in the grass’ and ‘$60 for closer grass.”

“I have VIP parking up to $250 lol.”

Ben Baker currently oversees ticketing for the venue nation unit of Live Nation.

In a statement, Live Nation said that “…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.”

Maybe Live Nation is truly a monopoly, and maybe it isn’t. Maybe the company’s deal with the Justice Department is fair, or maybe it doesn’t even scratch the surface of penalizing them for past behavior, and ensuring that behavior doesn’t happen again moving forward.

But a trial is really the only way to determine the just and fair penalties and restrictions that should be imposed on Live Nation, while allowing the facts of how their business operates to to be brought out into the public. It’s the very nature of the backroom, behind-the-scenes deal with the Justice Department that smacks of monopolistic power that can shirk responsibility and use shadowy tactics to grift the everyday consumer.

The trial of Live Nation is the exact type of transparency live music in America deserves.

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