Klobuchar Requests Pricing Transparency Update from Live Nation-Ticketmaster
Letter
Dear Mr. Rapino:
As the CEO of the nation's largest online ticketing platform, you know that millions of
Americans rely on your company for the chance to see their favorite artist, band, or sports team.
In return for their business and trust, your customers expect a transparent and honest ticket
buying process free from hidden fees.
Live Nation-Ticketmaster, however, has not yet made the all-in ticket price--including fees--the
default setting for its platform. For many events, including those for its own venues, it is still too
difficult to see the all-in price before checkout. In most instances, consumers must find and
select a filter buried within a tab that gives no indication that it contains an option to display allin pricing. The existence of this filter shows that Live Nation-Ticketmaster has the technical
ability to display all-in prices but chooses not to display that price to consumers as the default
setting. Although Live Nation-Ticketmaster does not set all of the fees charged on its platform,
you have a responsibility to be upfront with customers about the full cost of their tickets.
I support the Biden Administration's work to eliminate junk fees. At a White House event in
June, President Biden announced that, as a part of his campaign to eliminate junk fees, Live
Nation-Ticketmaster committed to "roll out an upfront all-in pricing experience in September
showing just one clear, total price." In your own press release, Live Nation-Ticketmaster touted
that it will "lead the industry with new all-in pricing." Yet, it is still too difficult for consumers to
find the all-in price of a ticket before checkout.
I expect that Live Nation-Ticketmaster will take additional steps to honor your commitment by
continuing to roll out transparent pricing tools that disclose all-in ticket prices to consumers prior
to checkout. Please respond by November 15, 2023 with the status of your efforts to disclose the
all-in ticket price to consumers up front.
Sincerely,
Source