Live Nation Employees Mocked Fans Over High Fees in Leaked Messages
Court documents have exposed inflammatory internal messages from Live Nation employees, where they boasted about the entertainment giant's exorbitant fees and mocked customers as "stupid." The messages, shared during the antitrust lawsuit between Ticketmaster—owned by Live Nation—and the U.S. Justice Department, reveal a culture of gleeful overcharging that has sparked public outrage.
Gloating Over Gouging in Private Chats
According to the New York Post, Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold, then-regional directors of ticketing, exchanged a series of Slack messages from 2021 through 2023. In these conversations, they bragged about "robbing them blind" and detailed specific instances of price gouging. For example, Weinhold gloated about charging $250 for VIP parking at a Virginia venue, while Baker recounted fees like "$50 to park in the grass" and "$60 for closer grass" at another location.
"These people are so stupid," Baker wrote in one message. "I almost feel bad taking advantage of them." The chats also highlighted the growth of "premier parking" at an unnamed venue, which reached $660,000 in 2021, with Baker commenting, "Robbing them blind, baby. That's how we do."
Company Response and Legal Context
Live Nation attempted to block the release of these messages, arguing they were "irrelevant" and intended to paint the company in an "unflattering light." The company described the exchange as "off-the-cuff banter" between friends, not reflective of official policy or decision-making. A spokesperson later stated, "The Slack exchange from one junior staffer to a friend absolutely doesn't reflect our values or how we operate." They added that leadership only learned of the messages when they became public and would investigate promptly.
Baker has since been promoted to head of ticketing for Live Nation's 150 amphitheatres and was slated to testify before the settlement was reached. He could still be called as several state attorneys general continue to pursue legal action, having not accepted the settlement terms, which remain unclear.
Broader Industry Criticisms
This incident adds to a history of clashes between Ticketmaster, its parent company Live Nation, and musical acts along with their fans. High-profile artists like Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen have been vocal critics of the company's practices. Live Nation has consistently argued that artists and teams set prices and decide how tickets are sold, but the leaked messages suggest a more aggressive approach to ancillary fees behind the scenes.
The revelation underscores ongoing concerns about consumer exploitation in the entertainment industry, particularly as antitrust scrutiny intensifies. With public trust at stake, the fallout from these messages may influence future regulatory actions and corporate accountability measures.
