Ticketmaster Faces New Antitrust Scrutiny Over Fyre Festival Deal

A federal judge has ordered Ticketmaster to give up control of its ticketing app in order to settle antitrust charges over a deal with Fyre Festival’s organizers. Ticketmaster agreed to pay $10 million and modify its contract with Fyre Festival, the event organizer behind the infamous 2017 concert that was plagued by logistical issues. The company also agreed to allow festival-goers to use a third-party ticketing app for future events, rather than using Ticketmaster exclusively. The deal does not necessarily signal an end to the US government’s investigation into Ticketmaster’s business practices, however. On Tuesday, the Department of Justice announced that it had reached a settlement with Live Nation Entertainment and Ticketmaster over antitrust charges related to their control of the ticketing industry. Under terms of the settlement, Ticketmaster agreed to pay $10 million and modify its contract with Fyre Festival. The company also agreed to allow festival-goers to use a third-party ticketing app for future events, rather than using Ticketmaster exclusively. The deal comes as Ticketmaster faces increasing scrutiny over its market dominance in the live music industry. Critics have long argued that the company’s stranglehold on the market allows it to engage in anti-competitive practices, such as charging higher fees to fans and limiting access to tickets for smaller venues. The settlement does not necessarily signal an end to the US government’s investigation into Ticketmaster’s business practices, however. The Department of Justice has stated that its investigation is ongoing and that any further action would depend on the results of the settlement.