Internal communications from two directors at Live Nation have surfaced, revealing their disdain for customers who pay high fees for events. The messages, disclosed in a federal antitrust lawsuit, show Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold openly mocking attendees as “stupid” for accepting inflated charges. This revelation raises serious questions about the company’s practices in the live events industry.
In a series of Slack messages exchanged in 2022, Baker, who oversees ticketing for Venue Nation, and Weinhold, senior ticketing director for the Washington, D.C. area, discussed their strategies for maximizing profits from various ancillary fees. They bragged about raising prices for items such as parking and VIP passes, with Weinhold noting a charge of “$250” for VIP parking at a Virginia venue.
Baker’s comments reflected a troubling mindset: “These people are so stupid,” he stated, expressing little remorse for exploiting customers. The two directors highlighted their success in generating significant revenue from “premier parking,” with Baker mentioning that $666,000 was made from these fees at a single venue in 2021. He detailed charging “$50 to park in the grass” and “$60 for closer grass,” further illustrating their tactics.
The leaked messages are part of a broader legal battle against Live Nation, primarily focusing on its merger with Ticketmaster in 2010. Critics, including lawmakers, have long accused the companies of monopolistic behavior that harms consumers and artists alike. The federal lawsuit, initiated by the Department of Justice and supported by attorneys general from 39 states, argues that the merger allowed Live Nation to dominate the live events market, enabling them to impose excessive ticket prices and additional fees.
Last week, Live Nation attempted to prevent these messages from being introduced as evidence, characterizing them as mere “off-the-cuff banter.” However, Judge Arun Subramanian ruled against this request, allowing the communications to be made public after media organizations, including Bloomberg and The New York Times, advocated for their release.
As the trial progressed, Baker was scheduled to testify, but recent developments have led to a surprising settlement between the Department of Justice and Live Nation, putting the trial on hold. This unexpected resolution has prompted 27 state attorneys general to prepare their own cases against the company, indicating that the legal scrutiny of Live Nation’s practices will likely continue.
This situation highlights the ongoing challenges within the live events industry, as consumers grapple with rising costs and companies face increasing scrutiny over their business practices. The revelations from Live Nation’s internal communications serve as a stark reminder of the tensions between profit and customer satisfaction in the entertainment sector.
