History of Ticketmaster in Timeline
Ticketmaster is an American ticket sales and distribution company, headquartered in Beverly Hills, California, with international operations. It merged with concert promoter Live Nation in 2010, forming Live Nation Entertainment. Both Ticketmaster and Live Nation continue to operate as subsidiaries under the Live Nation Entertainment umbrella, maintaining their respective brand identities.
1976: Ticketmaster Founded
In 1976, Ticketmaster was founded in Phoenix, Arizona, by Peter Gadwa, Albert Leffler, Gordon Gunn III, and Jerry Nelson. Initially, the company licensed computer programs and sold hardware for ticketing systems.
1982: Fred Rosen Appointed CEO
In 1982, Fred Rosen became CEO of Ticketmaster and moved the company to Los Angeles, aiming to build contracts with live entertainment venues.
1991: Acquisition of Ticketron
In 1991, Ticketmaster acquired its rival, Ticketron, becoming the market leader.
November 1993: Paul Allen Acquires Stake in Ticketmaster
In November 1993, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen acquired an 80% stake in Ticketmaster for more than $325 million.
1994: Partnership with WWE
In 1994, Ticketmaster started working with wrestling promotion World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
1995: Investigation Closed Without Action
In 1995, the Justice Department closed the investigation into Ticketmaster without action, though it stated it would continue to monitor the ticket industry.
1998: USA Networks Inc. Purchases Stake in Ticketmaster
In 1998, USA Networks Inc. (later InterActiveCorp/IAC) purchased a majority stake in Ticketmaster. The company then merged with CitySearch and was renamed Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch.
May 2000: Acquisition of TicketWeb Inc.
In May 2000, Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch acquired TicketWeb Inc., a ticket vendor selling tickets online and over the phone.
2000: The Collapse of Record Album Sales
The collapse of record album sales after the year 2000, meant that as of the 2020s, 95 percent of artist income comes from concert tours.
2003: IAC Repurchases Remaining Ticketmaster Stock
In 2003, IAC repurchased the remaining Ticketmaster stock that it had previously sold off.
2003: Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Ticketmaster
In 2003, a class action lawsuit was filed against Ticketmaster alleging lack of full disclosure of UPS and order processing fees added to tickets sold online.
September 2006: Ticketmaster Lobbies for Ticket Resale Laws
In September 2006, Ticketmaster President Sean Moriarty told NPR that Ticketmaster had lobbied several states to enact laws limiting the ticket resale market to authorized companies.
January 2008: Acquisition of Paciolan, Getmein.com, and TicketsNow
In January 2008, Ticketmaster acquired Paciolan Inc., Getmein.com (a UK-based secondary ticket marketplace), and TicketsNow (a US ticket reseller) for $265 million, after litigation over potential antitrust violations.
2008: Agreement with NFL for NFL TicketExchange
In 2008, Ticketmaster entered into an agreement with the National Football League (NFL) to manage its resale market on NFL TicketExchange.
2008: Spin-off and Acquisition of Front Line Management
In the summer of 2008, IAC spun off Ticketmaster as its own company. Later in 2008, Ticketmaster acquired Front Line Management, an artist management firm, and Irving Azoff became CEO of the new entity, renamed Ticketmaster Entertainment.
February 2009: Merger Agreement with Live Nation
In February 2009, Ticketmaster entered into an agreement to merge with event promoter Live Nation to form Live Nation Entertainment.
2009: Release of Digital Ticketing System
In 2009, Ticketmaster released a digital ticketing system that required customers to prove their identity before purchase, aimed at circumventing brokers and scalpers.
2009: Conflict of Interest Complaint and Legislation Advocacy
In 2009, musician Bruce Springsteen complained of a conflict of interest between Ticketmaster and TicketsNow. In the same year, Ticketmaster advocated for legislation in Ontario to protect fans from scalpers.
January 2010: DOJ Approves Live Nation Merger
In January 2010, the U.S. Justice Department cleared the merger between Ticketmaster and Live Nation, with conditions that included selling Paciolan and licensing software to AEG. Provisions were set to prevent retaliation against venues for 10 years.
2010: Ticketmaster Merger with Live Nation
In 2010, Ticketmaster merged with concert promoter Live Nation under the name Live Nation Entertainment, with both brand names continuing to operate as subsidiaries.
2010: Consent Decree after Live Nation Merger
In 2010, following Ticketmaster's merger with Live Nation, the United States Department of Justice issued a 10-year consent decree to prevent retaliation against venues partnering with competing ticketing firms.
2010: Analysis of the 2010 Consent Decree
On January 24, 2023, the Senate judiciary committee held a hearing to analyze the 2010 consent decree governing the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation.
May 2013: Settlement for Rewards Program Enrollment
In May 2013, Ticketmaster agreed to pay up to $23 million for enrolling customers into a rewards program that charged $9 per month, generating $85 million in fees. 1.12 million customers were eligible to claim up to a $30 refund.
2013: The String Cheese Incident Protests Ticketmaster Fees
In 2013, The String Cheese Incident gave fans money to purchase 400 tickets to one of its shows to resell on its own site with fewer fees, protesting Ticketmaster's ticket fees.
2015: Acquisition of Front Gate Tickets, Universe, and Two Toasters
In 2015, Ticketmaster acquired Front Gate Tickets (a music festival ticketing service), Universe (a DIY ticketing platform), and Two Toasters (a mobile app developer).
2015: Settlement Approved in Class Action Lawsuit
In 2015, the settlement of the 2003 class action lawsuit was approved, leading Ticketmaster to issue vouchers and discount codes to fans who purchased tickets online between 1999 and 2013.
2016: Ticket Resale as Fastest Growing Business
As of 2016, ticket resale was Ticketmaster's fastest growing business.
2016: Support for BOTS Act and Lawsuit Against Prestige Entertainment
In 2016, Ticketmaster released a statement in favor of the Better Online Ticket Sales Act (BOTS Act). The following year, they filed a lawsuit against Prestige Entertainment for using bots to purchase tickets to the Broadway play "Hamilton".
2017: TicketWeb Acquires Strobe Labs
In 2017, TicketWeb, Ticketmaster's self-service ticketing platform, acquired Strobe Labs, a marketing platform for social media fan engagement.
2017: TicketExchange Platform Expansion
In 2017, Ticketmaster announced it would open the TicketExchange platform to allow the sale and validation of tickets on third-party websites, including StubHub.
2017: Allegations of Hacking First Reported
In 2017, allegations that Ticketmaster hired a former CrowdSurge executive who hacked into his former employer's database were first reported, leading to subsequent legal action.
April 2018: DOJ Reviews AEG Complaints
As of April 2018, the United States Department of Justice was reviewing complaints by AEG claiming Ticketmaster engaged in anti-competitive practices, with no comments released on its investigation.
June 2018: Ticketmaster Hacked, Customer Data Compromised
In June 2018, Ticketmaster reported a hack affecting 40,000 U.K. customers. Malicious software on a third-party customer support product compromised data of customers who bought tickets between February and June 2018.
2018: Acquisition of UPGRADED
In 2018, Ticketmaster acquired UPGRADED, a company converting physical tickets into digital ones using blockchain technology.
2018: Tickets Sold in 2018
In 2018, Ticketmaster reported nearly 500 million tickets sold for 400,000 events.
June 2019: Ticketmaster Fined by Canada's Competition Bureau
In June 2019, Canada's Competition Bureau fined Ticketmaster $4.5 million for topping advertised costs by more than 20%, and sometimes as much as 65%. Ticketmaster also signed a consent agreement to ensure its advertising policies comply with Canadian law.
July 2019: Report of Bypassing Primary Market for Resale
In July 2019, a report by Billboard revealed a strategy by Live Nation (Ticketmaster's parent company) to secretly bypass placing certain tickets on the primary market, instead placing them directly on resale sites.
2019: Partnership with AEW
In 2019, Ticketmaster started working with wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
November 2020: COVID-19 Vaccination Status Checks Announced
In November 2020, Ticketmaster announced it would check the COVID-19 vaccination status of ticket buyers before issuing passes when live events return in 2021. Those who failed to verify or tested positive would be denied access.
December 2020: Ticketmaster Fined for Hacking Competitor's Systems
In December 2020, Ticketmaster agreed to pay a $10 million fine after being charged with illegally accessing a competitor's computer systems. The company used stolen information to gain an advantage.
2020: Acquisition of Tixcraft
In 2020, Ticketmaster acquired Taiwan's Tixcraft (拓元售票), marking its entry into the Asian market.
2020: Extension of Consent Decree
In 2020, Ticketmaster faced scrutiny from the United States Department of Justice for violations of its 2010 consent decree and subsequently agreed to a settlement that extended the decree for an additional five years, through 2025.
2020: DOJ Court Proceedings Against Live Nation
In 2020, the DOJ planned court proceedings against Live Nation for six violations of the 2010 provisions. Live Nation agreed to a settlement, extending the provisions for an additional five years to 2025.
2020: Ticketmaster Fined for Consent Decree Violation
In 2020, the Department of Justice fined Ticketmaster $3 million for violating a consent decree from the Live Nation merger. The decree was extended through 2025, requiring compliance enforcement with a $1 million penalty for future violations.
2021: Implementation of COVID-19 Vaccination Status Checks
In 2021, Ticketmaster began implementing its plan to check the COVID-19 vaccination status of ticket buyers before issuing passes for live events.
October 2022: Backlash Over Dynamic Pricing for Concert Tickets
In October 2022, Ticketmaster and Live Nation faced criticism for their dynamic pricing system and "platinum" tickets when tickets for Blink-182's 2023 tour went on sale, leading to exorbitant prices for random seats.
November 15, 2022: Ticketmaster Website Crashes During Taylor Swift Pre-Sale
On November 15, 2022, Ticketmaster's website crashed during the pre-sale for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour due to "historically unprecedented demand." The pre-sale was halted, and remaining onsales were rescheduled.
November 2022: Criticism of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Pre-Sale Handling
In November 2022, Ticketmaster faced widespread criticism regarding its handling of the pre-sale for Taylor Swift's "The Eras Tour", leading to a formal investigation by the Department of Justice.
November 18, 2022: Taylor Swift Responds to Ticketmaster Issues
On November 18, 2022, Taylor Swift released a statement addressing the Ticketmaster issues, expressing her disappointment and assuring fans that measures were being taken to resolve the situation.
December 9, 2022: Ticket Cancellations at Bad Bunny Concert in Mexico City
On December 9, 2022, during Bad Bunny's concert in Mexico City, many tickets were canceled, affecting a considerable number of concertgoers. Ticketmaster faced criticism over accusations of counterfeit or cloned tickets, leading to investigations and refund offers.
December 26, 2022: Zach Bryan Criticizes Ticketmaster
On December 26, 2022, American country singer Zach Bryan criticized Ticketmaster for his Burn Burn Burn tour and listed out non-transferrable tickets to stop scalpers.
2022: Experimentation with Dynamic Pricing
In 2022, Ticketmaster was experimenting with demand-based, dynamic pricing which would vary the ticket price based upon demand.
January 2023: U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
In January 2023, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to examine Ticketmaster's merger with Live Nation, following criticism of the company's handling of the pre-sale of Taylor Swift's "The Eras Tour".
January 24, 2023: Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing on Ticketmaster
On January 24, 2023, the Senate judiciary committee held a hearing to analyze the 2010 consent decree governing the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation. Senators questioned Ticketmaster's CFO about monopolistic practices, ticket costs, and lack of transparency.
March 2023: Robert Smith Criticizes Dynamic Pricing Model
In March 2023, Robert Smith of The Cure criticized Ticketmaster's dynamic pricing model and prevented dynamically-priced tickets for The Cure's North American tour. After Smith expressed his outrage, Ticketmaster refunded a portion of the fees to the purchasers.
March 2023: Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Ticketmaster in Quebec
In March 2023, fans of Canadian rapper Drake filed a class action lawsuit against Ticketmaster in the Superior Court of Quebec, alleging intentional deception and fraud related to the It's All a Blur Tour ticket sales.
May 2023: Ticketmaster Partners with Eurovision Song Contest
In May 2023, Ticketmaster partnered with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the BBC for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. The ticket booking platform experienced crashes, and tickets were resold at inflated prices on third-party platforms.
2023: Burn Burn Burn Tour
In 2023, American country singer Zach Bryan criticized Ticketmaster for his Burn Burn Burn tour and listed out non-transferrable tickets to stop scalpers on December 26, 2022.
2023: Robert Smith Confirms Dynamic Pricing is an Opt-In System
In 2023, Robert Smith of the Cure confirmed that dynamic pricing used by Ticketmaster is something artists can choose to opt into.
2023: Taylor Swift Eras Tour
In 2023, the Eras Tour by Taylor Swift faced issues during Ticketmaster pre-sales on November 15, 2022, when the ticketing platform crashed due to high demand.
May 18, 2024: Data Breach Exposes Customer Information
On May 18, 2024, an unauthorized third party gained access to a cloud database hosted by a third-party data services provider, compromising personal information, including payment-card details, of Ticketmaster customers.
May 20, 2024: Ticketmaster Database Suffers Breach
On May 20, 2024, Ticketmaster’s database, hosted by Snowflake Inc., suffered a breach as part of a larger Snowflake customer data breach. Hackers accessed the Ticketmaster database using credentials stolen from EPAM.
May 23, 2024: Antitrust Suit Launched Against Live Nation and Ticketmaster
On May 23, 2024, the Department of Justice and a coalition of 40 states formally launched an antitrust suit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
September 2024: UK CMA Launches Investigation into Ticketmaster over Oasis Concert Ticket Sales
On 5 September 2024, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced it was launching an investigation into Ticketmaster over Oasis concert ticket sales. The investigation includes dynamic pricing and potential breaches of consumer protection law.
October 2024: Tickets Incorrectly Removed from Accounts
In October 2024, Ticketmaster customers began reporting tickets being incorrectly removed from accounts. Ticketmaster initially blamed hackers exploiting the ticket transfer feature.
November 2024: Ticket Issues Continue for Usher Concert
In November 2024, fans attending an Usher concert experienced similar ticket issues, with tickets only being refunded after complaints. The lack of action from Ticketmaster led to suspicion about their involvement in the scam.
May 2025: Announcement of "All In Prices" Initiative
In May 2025, Ticketmaster announced it would start showing how much buyers paid for tickets—fees included—before checkout. The company announced the "All In Prices" initiative as part of its efforts to comply with the Federal Trade Commission's ban on junk fees.
September 2025: FTC Accusations of Allowing Resellers to Ignore Purchase Limits
In September 2025, the United States Federal Trade Commission, joined by seven states, accused Ticketmaster and Live Nation of allowing ticket resellers to ignore purchasing limit set by artists, which allowed resellers to scoop up tickets and sell them for a markup.
2025: Controversy over Oasis reunion tour ticket prices
In 2025, many fans criticized the sales process and prices for the Oasis 2025 reunion tour, noting hours-long queues or website crashes when attempting to buy tickets, and prices dramatically changing due to Ticketmaster's dynamic pricing system.
2025: Consent Decree Extended Through 2025
In 2025, the consent decree, resulting from the Live Nation merger and requiring compliance enforcement with a $1 million penalty for future violations, is scheduled to end.
2025: End of Extended Consent Decree
In 2025, the extended consent decree from the Live Nation merger, which began in 2010 and was extended in 2020, is set to expire.
2025: End of Extended Provisions
In 2025, the extended provisions, preventing retaliation against venues and stemming from the 2010 Live Nation merger and subsequent 2020 settlement, are scheduled to end.
January 2026: Canadian Class Action Lawsuit Certified
In January 2026, a Canadian class action lawsuit was certified, alleging that Ticketmaster's service fees were abusive and violated consumer protection laws because they varied based on the ticket price instead of the cost of providing the service.
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