Millions of Ticketmaster customers may soon be able to unite in a sweeping federal class action that could redefine how concert tickets are sold in the U.S.
The antitrust lawsuit — first filed in January 2022 by lead plaintiff Skot Heckman — accuses Live Nation and Ticketmaster of manipulating the secondary ticketing market, engaging in anti-competitive practices, and harming consumers for more than a decade.
At a Dec. 4 hearing in Los Angeles, U.S. District Judge George Wutook under submission a motion that could certify a nationwide class of fans who bought primary tickets and paid Ticketmaster service fees at major concert venues dating back to 2010. Multiple reports say the tone of the arguments strongly suggests he may grant the motion.
If certified, millions of customers could move forward together and open the door to potentially billions in damages under federal antitrust law.
Parade reached out to reps at both Live Nation and Ticketmaster but did not immediately hear back.
When news of the Dec. 4 hearing landed, the internet blew up with fans sharing thousands of variations of the same experience: long queues, sudden crashes, disappearing tickets, and fees so high they feel like a second ticket.
"I have not been able to secure @Ticketmaster @TMFanSupport day of the sale or presale all year for any big artist," one user shared on X. "It's significantly worse than even last year. This company operates a monopoly and is not providing a quality product. Legislators need to step in. #ROSALIALUXTOUR"
"Thanks @Ticketmaster for screwing me over!" another wrote about a recent experience. "Joined the waiting room when it opened and at 10 I got this. Went to my phone and got the same when I tried again. Tickets gone now."
Another customer described it as a "nightmare" and questioned: "At what point do we hold @Ticketmaster @TMFanSupport accountable for their actions?"
They added: "Ever since the eras tour, any concert that uses ticketmaster is nothing but bots, scalpers, and inflated resale prices, all so TM can make a quick buck. This is ridiculous."
One fan recalled spending time on the website only to have alleged bots interfere.
"Thank you for letting LITERAL bots into the presale and blocking access to a person that genuinely goes to concerts all the time," they wrote. "Guess i’m not getting these tickets today."
Accusing Ticketmaster as "the worst mafia," one user described a recent experience of entering the "virtual queue with only 300 people ahead and when your turn comes, there are no tickets left. It's mathematically impossible."
Another shared that they were unable to purchase tickets during a presale because Ticketmaster "deemed my account activity 'unusual' and paused it WHILE i was buying tickets."
"I was fully charged for a failed transaction, my bank confirmed it twice, and Ticketmaster refuses to help or investigate," another said. "No tickets, no refund, and zero accountability. Do better."
What the Case Claims
Plaintiffs allege Live Nation and Ticketmaster have:
used market dominance to force venues into exclusive ticketing contractscharged “supracompetitive fees” that inflate ticket costs by 20–80%restricted competition by limiting ticket transfers and steering resales to Ticketmasterblocked brokers who use outside marketplacesThey argue the companies’ control allows them to raise prices, limit consumer choice, and maintain dominance in both primary and secondary ticketing.
At the Dec. 4 hearing, Live Nation and Ticketmaster attorney Tim O’Mara argued that the plaintiffs haven't shown that all consumers were harmed in the same way — a central requirement for class certification.
According to Courthouse News Service, O’Mara said the plaintiffs’ economic model ignores key differences among venues, such as size, location, and negotiated fee structures.
“You need to isolate the anti-competitive conduct,” O’Mara told the court. “If this can be certified as a class, then any case can be certified.”
Judge Wu appeared unconvinced, signaling that those arguments may be better suited for a later phase of litigation.
“I don’t agree with you on the approach you’re taking,” he told O’Mara, emphasizing that class certification is about whether the case structurally belongs in a group format — not whether the plaintiffs’ analysis is ultimately correct.
This Isn't The Only Ticketmaster Case
Judge Wu is also overseeing the lawsuit brought by Taylor Swift fans over the 2022 Eras Tour meltdown. In that case, he allowed major breach-of-contract claims to move forward, noting that “millions of fans waited up to eight hours and were unable to purchase tickets.”
Separately, the U.S. Department of Justice and 40 state attorneys general have an ongoing antitrust case alleging Live Nation–Ticketmaster wields unlawful monopoly power across live entertainment.
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