Just days after settling with the Department of Justice (DOJ), ticketing company Live Nation is again under fire after internal messages between employees revealed bragging about “taking advantage” of ticket buyers.
In message exchanges from 2022, two regional directors of ticketing for Live Nation amphitheaters, Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold, boasted about the prices they were able to get away with charging customers for ancillary fees, including things like parking, lawn chair rentals, and VIP access, with Baker writing, “I gouge them on ancil prices.”
In one exchange, Weinhold shared how he was able to charge $250 for VIP parking at a venue. “These people are so stupid,” Baker replied. “I almost feel bad taking advantage of them.”
In another series of messages, Baker says he charges customers “$50 to park in the grass” and “$60 for closer grass.”
“Robbing them blind baby,” he added. “That’s how we do it.”
The DOJ’s antitrust trial against Live Nation and Ticketmaster began this month, with the government alleging that Live Nation’s control of Ticketmaster was monopolizing the ticketing industry and leading to unfair pricing for consumers. Last week, Live Nation filed a request for the judge to exclude six sets of Baker and Weinhold’s messages from the trial, arguing that they would unfairly bias the jury.
The DOJ and attorneys general for the states suing Live Nation opposed the request, and several media organizations later petitioned for the documents to be unsealed.
On Monday, the DOJ and Live Nation reached a surprise settlement, letting the company retain ownership of Ticketmaster—but despite a legal win for Live Nation, the Baker and Weinhold messages have dealt another blow to the brand’s reputation.
In a statement to Fast Company, Live Nation condemned Weinhold and Baker’s conduct, adding that its own executives were unaware of the exchange prior to the trial documents being unsealed.
“The Slack exchange from one junior staffer to a friend absolutely doesn’t reflect our values or how we operate,” reads the statement. “Because this was a private Slack message, leadership learned of this when the public did, and will be looking into the matter promptly.”
A spokesperson for Live Nation emphasized that Baker and Weinhold’s behavior was against company policy, and that their pricing exceeded limits put in place to protect ticket buyers.
“We are digging into it now that we are aware,” the spokesperson added. “This is not at all an acceptable way to behave or talk, and important to note that these are not executives.”