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DOJ and FTC Open Public Inquiry Into Live Entertainment Practices

Federal agencies seek public input on anticompetitive conduct and scalping in response to Trump’s executive order.

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An American flag waves outside the U.S. Department of Justice Building in Washington, U.S., December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Al Drago/ File Photo
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Overview

  • The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have launched a 60-day public comment period to investigate unfair and anticompetitive practices in the live entertainment industry.
  • This inquiry stems from President Trump’s March 31 Executive Order 14254, which mandates stricter enforcement of competition laws and the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act.
  • The agencies aim to address consumer complaints about scalping bots, inflated ticket prices, and limited artist compensation, with a regulatory report due later this year.
  • The DOJ’s ongoing antitrust lawsuit, joined by 40 state attorneys general, seeks to break up Live Nation Entertainment and Ticketmaster over alleged monopolistic practices.
  • Public comments will inform regulatory recommendations, with submissions accepted until July 6, 2025, via Regulations.gov.