Ticketmaster Entertainment, LLC: Difference between revisions
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{{ | {{CompanyCargo | ||
| | |Description=American entertainment distributor known for selling event tickets online. | ||
|Founded=1976-10-02 | |||
| Founded = 1976-10-02 | |Industry=Entertainment | ||
| Industry = | |Logo=Ticketmaster_logo.png | ||
| | |ParentCompany=Live Nation Entertainment | ||
|Type=Subsidiary | |||
|Website=https://www.ticketmaster.com/ | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''[[wikipedia:Ticketmaster|Ticketmaster Entertainment, LLC]]''' is an American ticket sales and distribution company based in Beverly Hills, California, with operations in many countries around the world. Ticketmaster has been accused by consumers of price gouging tickets, in addition Ticketmaster has been involved in a data breach that leaked personal information about customers from the US, Canada, and Mexico.<ref name=":1">[https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/26110487861137-Ticketmaster-Data-Security-Incident "Ticketmaster Data Security Incident"] - help.ticketmaster.com - accessed 2025-01-31 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251213101935/https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/26110487861137-Ticketmaster-Data-Security-Incident Archived])</ref> | |||
'''[[wikipedia:Ticketmaster|Ticketmaster Entertainment, LLC]]''' is an American ticket sales and distribution company based in Beverly Hills, California, with operations in many countries around the world. Ticketmaster has been accused by consumers of price gouging tickets, in addition Ticketmaster has been involved in a data breach that leaked personal information about customers from the US, Canada, and Mexico.<ref name=":1">[https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/26110487861137-Ticketmaster-Data-Security-Incident "Ticketmaster Data Security Incident"] - help.ticketmaster.com - accessed 2025-01-31</ref> | |||
==Consumer-impact summary== | ==Consumer-impact summary== | ||
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Ticketmaster allegedly continued this deceptive, tactic between 2008 and 2009 for multiple events, not just the Bruce Springsteen concert.<ref name=":0" /> | Ticketmaster allegedly continued this deceptive, tactic between 2008 and 2009 for multiple events, not just the Bruce Springsteen concert.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
In 2025, Ticketmaster has allegedly misled customers by posting ticket prices that are low upfront, but tag additional large, unreasonable, and unavoidable fees near the end of the sale. A 2025 class action was filed against Ticketmaster and Ticketmaster's parent company Live Nation for these misleading checkout practices and alleged "drip pricing."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=18 March 2025 |title=Madrigal et al. v. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. et al. - 2:25-cv-02375 |url=https://www.classaction.org/media/madrigal-et-al-v-live-nation-entertainment-inc-et-al.pdf |journal=U.S. District Court, Central District of California |volume=Case No. |issue=2:25-cv-02375 |via=ClassActionorg}}</ref> | In 2025, Ticketmaster has allegedly misled customers by posting ticket prices that are low upfront, but tag additional large, unreasonable, and unavoidable fees near the end of the sale. A 2025 class action was filed against Ticketmaster and Ticketmaster's parent company Live Nation for these misleading checkout practices and alleged "drip pricing."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=18 March 2025 |title=Madrigal et al. v. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. et al. - 2:25-cv-02375 |url=https://www.classaction.org/media/madrigal-et-al-v-live-nation-entertainment-inc-et-al.pdf |journal=U.S. District Court, Central District of California |volume=Case No. |issue=2:25-cv-02375 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325201244/https://www.classaction.org/media/madrigal-et-al-v-live-nation-entertainment-inc-et-al.pdf |archive-date=25 Mar 2025 |via=ClassActionorg}}</ref> | ||
===ShinyHunters databreach (May 15, 2024)=== | ===ShinyHunters databreach (May 15, 2024)=== | ||
Ticketmaster's company network was accessed without authorization by the cybercriminal group "ShinyHunters", the group managed to gain access through a vulnerability in the Ticketmaster customer service portal.<ref name=":2">[https://www.frameworksec.com/post/ticketmaster-breach-a-deep-dive-into-the-may-2024-cyberattack-and-the-history-of-the-alleged-hackers "Ticketmaster Breach: A Deep Dive into the May 2024 Cyberattack and the History of the Alleged Hackers"] - frameworksec.com - accessed 2025-01-31</ref> The breach exposed consumer email, phone, encrypted payment information, and additional information provided by the consumer of around 40 million customers.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> | Ticketmaster's company network was accessed without authorization by the cybercriminal group "ShinyHunters", the group managed to gain access through a vulnerability in the Ticketmaster customer service portal.<ref name=":2">[https://www.frameworksec.com/post/ticketmaster-breach-a-deep-dive-into-the-may-2024-cyberattack-and-the-history-of-the-alleged-hackers "Ticketmaster Breach: A Deep Dive into the May 2024 Cyberattack and the History of the Alleged Hackers"] - frameworksec.com - accessed 2025-01-31 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250708194934/https://www.frameworksec.com/post/ticketmaster-breach-a-deep-dive-into-the-may-2024-cyberattack-and-the-history-of-the-alleged-hackers Archived])</ref> The breach exposed consumer email, phone, encrypted payment information, and additional information provided by the consumer of around 40 million customers.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> | ||
====Ticketmaster's response==== | ====Ticketmaster's response==== | ||
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Ticketmaster has a history of not making refunds immediately available for events that are postponed. While the tickets remain valid for canceled events awaiting a rescheduled date, customers who want immediate refunds are often left at the whim of event organizers, who tend to not allow refunds until an official rescheduled date for the canceled event is announced.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What happens if my event is rescheduled or moved? |url=https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9784889055889-What-happens-if-my-event-is-rescheduled-or-moved |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250527193857/https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9784889055889-What-happens-if-my-event-is-rescheduled-or-moved |archive-date=27 May 2025 |access-date=16 Jun 2025 |website=Ticketmaster}}</ref> Since Ticketmaster is owned by the same parent company as many promoters, they have significant influence and control over when customers get refunds, even though it seems like they are a simple intermediary. | Ticketmaster has a history of not making refunds immediately available for events that are postponed. While the tickets remain valid for canceled events awaiting a rescheduled date, customers who want immediate refunds are often left at the whim of event organizers, who tend to not allow refunds until an official rescheduled date for the canceled event is announced.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What happens if my event is rescheduled or moved? |url=https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9784889055889-What-happens-if-my-event-is-rescheduled-or-moved |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250527193857/https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9784889055889-What-happens-if-my-event-is-rescheduled-or-moved |archive-date=27 May 2025 |access-date=16 Jun 2025 |website=Ticketmaster}}</ref> Since Ticketmaster is owned by the same parent company as many promoters, they have significant influence and control over when customers get refunds, even though it seems like they are a simple intermediary. | ||
A prime example of this is the cancelation of Shakira's “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour” concert, planned to take place on June 13, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas at the Alamodome. The concert was canceled less than an hour before showtime. While tickets to the event remain valid, customers were forced to wait 60 days or until the event is rescheduled before requesting a refund.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Sanchez |first=Christine |date=16 Jun 2025 |title=What to know about Shakira’s postponed shows in San Antonio, Houston |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/san-antonio/news/2025/06/16/shakira-postponed-shows-structural-issues |url-status=live |access-date=16 Jun 2025 |work=Spectrum News 1 Austin}}</ref> While most companies will refund customers if a specific product is not delivered at a specific date, Ticketmaster appears to make concerts an exception in this case. There is no option for customers who know that they will not attend the event again before the official rescheduled date is announced. Alas, they are forced into uncertainty instead of expecting a refund for undelivered service. | A prime example of this is the cancelation of Shakira's “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour” concert, planned to take place on June 13, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas at the Alamodome. The concert was canceled less than an hour before showtime. While tickets to the event remain valid, customers were forced to wait 60 days or until the event is rescheduled before requesting a refund.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Sanchez |first=Christine |date=16 Jun 2025 |title=What to know about Shakira’s postponed shows in San Antonio, Houston |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/san-antonio/news/2025/06/16/shakira-postponed-shows-structural-issues |url-status=live |access-date=16 Jun 2025 |work=Spectrum News 1 Austin |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250804074725/https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/san-antonio/news/2025/06/16/shakira-postponed-shows-structural-issues |archive-date=4 Aug 2025}}</ref> While most companies will refund customers if a specific product is not delivered at a specific date, Ticketmaster appears to make concerts an exception in this case. There is no option for customers who know that they will not attend the event again before the official rescheduled date is announced. Alas, they are forced into uncertainty instead of expecting a refund for undelivered service. | ||
Moreover, customers are forced to request the refund instead of automatically being issued one when the event isn't rescheduled. If 60 days pass, and the event has not been rescheduled, a "30-day window" will open where customers must request the refund.<ref name=":3" /> | Moreover, customers are forced to request the refund instead of automatically being issued one when the event isn't rescheduled. If 60 days pass, and the event has not been rescheduled, a "30-day window" will open where customers must request the refund.<ref name=":3" /> | ||
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Ticketmaster has been accused of being a [[Monopoly|monopoly.]] | Ticketmaster has been accused of being a [[Monopoly|monopoly.]] | ||
In May 2024, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation for monopolizing the ticket industry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Adam |title=Is Ticketmaster a Monopoly? |url=https://www.investopedia.com/is-ticketmaster-a-monopoly-6834539}}</ref> | In May 2024, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation for monopolizing the ticket industry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Adam |title=Is Ticketmaster a Monopoly? |url=https://www.investopedia.com/is-ticketmaster-a-monopoly-6834539 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251213220402/https://www.investopedia.com/is-ticketmaster-a-monopoly-6834539 |archive-date=13 Dec 2025}}</ref> | ||