Live Nation is one of the largest ticket sellers and event promoters in the world. They sell tickets through their own websites like LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.com as well as through various resale marketplaces. This inevitably raises the question – does Live Nation sell legitimate event tickets or do they engage in shady practices?
The short answer is yes, Live Nation does sell legitimate tickets directly to fans for concerts, sports games, and other live events. However, there are some caveats and controversies around their ticketing practices that warrant a deeper look.
Live Nation’s Reputation and Controversies
Live Nation has faced scrutiny over the years for things like service fees, dynamic pricing, and controlling too much of the live event industry after their 2010 merger with Ticketmaster. Some of the main controversies include:
- Service and processing fees that can add 25-50% to the base ticket price
- “Dynamic pricing” where ticket prices fluctuate based on demand
- Resale tickets from the secondary market sometimes costing many times the base price
- Accusations of monopolistic control over venues, artists, and ticket sales
- Lawsuits over deceptive fees and other unfair practices
These types of issues understandably cause lots of fan frustration and mistrust. However, Live Nation has maintained that their pricing practices are standard for the industry and enable them to keep base ticket prices down. They’ve also invested heavily in combating ticket fraud and bots.
Are Tickets Sold Directly by Live Nation Legitimate?
Yes, tickets sold directly through Live Nation’s own sites like LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.com are 100% legitimate. These are primary market tickets directly from the source. When you buy tickets this way, you can rest assured:
- The tickets are valid and will get you into the event
- You are paying face value ticket prices set by the artist/team
- Any additional service fees are the normal costs of ticket processing and distribution
Live Nation only sells tickets directly through their sites when they are the official ticket partner for an event or venue. They get inventory directly from the artists, teams, and venues up front to sell on their platform.
Some key points that indicate legitimate Live Nation tickets:
- You purchase through an official Live Nation-owned site like LiveNation.com or Ticketmaster.com
- The tickets are sold at face value price + normal fees shown up front
- You receive official emailed tickets from the venue, team, or Live Nation after purchase
- The ticket details all match the event details listed on the artist/team/venue website
As long as you buy from Live Nation’s primary sites, you can trust you are getting real tickets sold directly by the source.
Potential Risks Buying Tickets From Third-Party Sites
Where you can get into trouble is buying from unofficial third-party ticket sites. Live Nation does facilitate ticket resales through their TicketExchange platform. There are also many other secondary marketplaces like StubHub where resellers can list Live Nation-issued tickets. In these cases, you are not buying directly from Live Nation, which adds some risk:
- Higher prices since resellers often markup tickets
- Possibility of counterfeit or invalid tickets from dishonest sellers
- You may overpay for tickets that end up being worse seats than advertised
Live Nation does vet sellers on its TicketExchange platform and offers guarantees for invalid tickets. However, you generally don’t have as much recourse purchasing secondhand tickets from unofficial resellers. Always check reviews and purchase through trusted platforms like StubHub to mitigate your risk.
Tips for Buying Live Nation Tickets
Here are some best practices for ensuring you get valid Live Nation tickets at fair prices:
- Always buy from official Live Nation websites like LiveNation.com or Ticketmaster.com for your country.
- Check the artist or team’s website for links to purchase tickets through official Live Nation partner sites.
- Buy early during presales to get the best face value prices before demand drives up resale prices.
- Compare overall costs across different sections to identify the best ticket values.
- Watch out for “dynamic pricing” where tickets for the same seat can change in price dynamically based on demand.
- If buying resale, only purchase through trusted platforms like TicketExchange or StubHub.
- Carefully check ticket details to verify the seat info, event details, and barcodes are legitimate.
Following these tips when shopping for tickets will help ensure you get valid seats at a fair price and avoid any scam risks.
Are There Any Alternatives to Live Nation-Ticketmaster?
Live Nation does have a dominant position in the ticketing industry after acquiring Ticketmaster in 2010. However, there are some alternative ticket sellers, though they are limited due to exclusive venue and artist deals with Live Nation.
Ticket Seller | Details |
---|---|
AXS | Owned by AEG, sells tickets for AEG venues and some artists/teams. Significant market share but smaller than Live Nation. |
Ticketfly | Independent ticketing company recently acquired by Eventbrite. Sells for some smaller venues and events. |
Etix | Sells tickets for select venues/festivals/theaters that choose their platform. Small fraction of the market. |
Universe | Upstart ticketing platform used by some major artists like Taylor Swift. Growing competitor in the ticketing space. |
Official team/venue box offices | Some teams and venues sell directly through their own websites/box offices without using Live Nation. |
So there are limited alternatives, though Live Nation still commands 75-80% market share of primary ticketing services. This lack of competition contributes to some of the ongoing complaints about their fees and pricing practices.
Is Live Nation Currently Facing Any Legal Issues or Investigations?
Yes, Live Nation has faced a steady stream of lawsuits and antitrust investigations related to alleged anticompetitive behavior and violations of antitrust law. Some current legal issues include:
- Multiple lawsuits in different states alleging Live Nation monopolizes the industry and engages in anticompetitive practices that hurt consumers.
- A 2019 Justice Department investigation into possible antitrust practices stemming from their 2010 Ticketmaster merger. This investigation is reportedly still ongoing.
- Lawsuits over deceptive fees, inadequate refunds, accessibility issues, and other concerns around unfair consumer practices.
Additionally, multiple elected officials have called for greater oversight and investigations into possible antitrust violations by Live Nation-Ticketmaster. There are active legislative attempts to reform the industry. So while no charges have been brought yet, legal scrutiny continues to mount.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Live Nation does sell 100% legitimate tickets directly through their primary sales sites. However, there are valid consumer concerns around unfair fees, prices, and possible monopolistic practices. Always purchase tickets directly from Live Nation’s sites rather than resellers to ensure authenticity. But be aware of the company’s controversies and legal issues as part of the ticketing process.