Ticketmaster’s 3–14 Year Contracts (You Can’t Escape)

Описание: Venues sign exclusive deals with Ticketmaster they can't break. Three to fourteen years, terminable only for cause. DOJ alleges that if venues switch, they risk losing Live Nation concerts. By 2022, Ticketmaster controlled at least 70% of tickets at major venues.

This is the story of how DOJ approved a merger in 2010—and the consent decree failed to stop the lock-in. The official who approved it promised competition would emerge. Her name was Christine Varney. Fourteen years later, the same Justice Department is suing to break them apart.

Chapters:
0:00 - The Contract Lock
1:30 - Fred Rosen's Profit Center (1982)
4:33 - The San Diego Contract
7:02 - TradeDesk: The Double-Dipping Machine
9:07 - The Revenue Split Reality
12:28 - Christine Varney's Revolving Door
14:08 - Five Violations (2010-2019)
16:01 - Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Collapse
17:41 - Rapino's "Luxury Good" Defense
18:13 - Class Action Certified
19:31 - International Solutions
21:09 - The System Breaks

Timeline:
1982: Fred Rosen transforms ticketing into profit center
2010: DOJ approves Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger
2019: DOJ finds 5 violations, extends consent decree
Nov 2022: Taylor Swift presale collapse (3.5B requests)
May 2024: DOJ files antitrust suit
Dec 2025: Nationwide class action certified
March 2026: Trial begins

Sources: DOJ antitrust complaint (2024), consent decree filings, SEC proxy statements, CBC investigation, Senate Judiciary Committee testimony.

#Ticketmaster #LiveNation