Washington, D.C., May 7, 2025 — The U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today launched a joint public inquiry into unfair and anticompetitive practices in the live entertainment ticketing market, seeking input from consumers, artists, and industry stakeholders. The initiative is part of a broader push under President Trump’s Executive Order 14254 to crack down on practices that inflate ticket prices and restrict competition.
The agencies are calling on the public to submit comments over the next 60 days on deceptive conduct and market distortions—particularly in the live concert industry and secondary ticketing markets. The responses will inform a joint report to be issued by the DOJ, FTC, and Department of the Treasury recommending potential regulatory and legislative actions to protect consumers.
“Competitive live entertainment markets should deliver value to artists and fans alike,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater, who leads the DOJ’s Antitrust Division. “We’re examining this market to identify where stronger enforcement can bring down prices and ensure fairer compensation for artists.”
FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson emphasized the growing frustration among concertgoers. “Many Americans feel like they are being priced out of live entertainment by scalpers, bots, and other unfair and deceptive practices,” Ferguson said. “Now their voices are being heard. President Trump has sent a clear message that bad actors who exploit fans and distort the marketplace will not be tolerated.”
Executive Order 14254, signed by President Trump on March 31, instructs federal agencies to ensure competition laws are properly enforced in the live entertainment sector and to crack down on violations of the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act. That law, passed in 2016, prohibits the use of bots to bypass ticket purchase limits and resell tickets at inflated prices.
Public comments can be submitted through Regulations.gov until July 7, 2025 (Docket No. ATR-2025-0002). Submissions will be made publicly available.
The announcement comes as the DOJ continues a civil antitrust lawsuit filed last year—alongside 40 state attorneys general—against Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary Ticketmaster. The government alleges the companies engaged in monopolistic behavior that harmed competition across the live event industry.
The new inquiry signals increased scrutiny of the ticketing sector amid growing bipartisan calls for reform. Consumers, artists, small venues, and businesses are encouraged to contribute their experiences and views on how to restore fairness in live entertainment ticketing.
