The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, accusing them of orchestrating unlawful ticket resale tactics that exploit American fans.

Filed in California, the suit alleges that the companies colluded with scalpers, enabling them to purchase tickets in bulk and then resell them at inflated prices — a practice the FTC claims boosts profits at the expense of consumers.

“[Ticketmaster and Live Nation’s] illegal conduct frustrates artists’ desire to maintain affordable ticket prices that fit the needs of ordinary American families, costing ordinary fans millions of dollars every year,” the lawsuit states.

According to the complaint, Ticketmaster not only looks the other way when brokers exceed purchase limits but also actively encourages resales. The FTC further accuses the company of using deceptive “bait-and-switch” pricing, where advertised ticket costs are altered during checkout. These practices, the agency argues, violate the Better Online Ticket Sales Act.

The commission also says Ticketmaster has been “triple dipping” — collecting revenue from brokers in the primary market, from inflated prices in the resale market, and from direct consumer fees. From 2019 to 2024 alone, the companies allegedly pocketed $3.7 billion from ticket resales.

“You can’t screw ordinary American consumers who just want to go to a baseball game or a concert, so that brokers can make massive profits and Ticketmaster can share in those profits,” FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said.

The FTC is now seeking an injunction to put an end to what it calls Ticketmaster and Live Nation’s “extreme resales.”