![\"Entertainment](\"https:\/\/www.digitalmusicnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/DOJ-FTC-Inquiry-1024x546.jpg\" "\\"Entertainment\\"")
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The DOJ and the FTC have officially launched a public inquiry in connection with a March executive order targeting \u2018unfair practices in the live entertainment market.\u2019 Photo Credit: ActionVance<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Entertainment The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission have officially launched an inquiry into \u201cunfair and anticompetitive practices\u201d in the live entertainment space.<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe DOJ and the FTC formally announced this public inquiry today, a month and change after President Trump signed an executive order targeting \u201cunscrupulous middlemen who sit at the intersection between artists and fans.\u201d<\/p>\n
As we noted then<\/a>, the order gave the mentioned department and agency (besides the Treasury Department) 180 days to provide a report describing \u201cany recommendations for regulations or legislation necessary to protect consumers\u201d in the ticketing world.<\/p>\nAnd it\u2019s in connection with the report that the entities are now fielding<\/a> comments concerning \u201charmful practices\u201d in the live sector. The public, from consumers to companies, have until Monday, July 7th to weigh in if so inclined, according to the inquiry announcement.<\/p>\nIn addition to insights pertaining to the previously highlighted \u201cunfair and anticompetitive practices,\u201d the DOJ and the FTC are welcoming comments about \u201cthe competitive effects of current state and federal regulations and laws in the live concert and entertainment industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will continue to closely examine this market and look for opportunities where vigorous enforcement of the antitrust laws can lead to increased competition that makes tickets more affordable for fans while offering fairer compensation for artists,\u201d Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater added in part.<\/p>\n
Time will, of course, reveal exactly what comes of the inquiry and different components of the executive order, which also instructed the FTC to ramp up enforcement of the Better Online Ticket Sales Act (BOTS Act<\/a>).<\/p>\nToday\u2019s announcement underscored that the commission is \u201ctaking the lead\u201d here. Though new charges have yet to materialize under the scalping-focused law, the FTC last month fired off a warning shot of sorts with an explainer<\/a> entitled \u201cBOTS Act compliance: Time for a refresher?\u201d<\/p>\nIn the bigger picture, one needn\u2019t be a Washington insider to sense the bipartisan regulatory mood regarding crowd-based entertainment. <\/strong><\/h4>\nTo name one immediate example, today\u2019s public-comments release also reiterated that the DOJ as well as 40 state and district attorneys general are litigating against<\/a> Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary over \u201cmonopolization and other unlawful conduct.\u201d<\/p>\nMeanwhile, the House closed out April by overwhelmingly approving<\/a> the TICKET Act (which, in a nutshell, would mandate all-in pricing for tickets), and senators from both sides of the aisle kicked off a new round of Live Nation antitrust scrutiny.<\/p>\nThis time, the involved lawmakers (who aren\u2019t strangers to expressing concerns about the Ticketmaster parent\u2019s operations) are zeroing in on a Fanatics pact<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section><\/div>\n
And it\u2019s in connection with the report that the entities are now fielding<\/a> comments concerning \u201charmful practices\u201d in the live sector. The public, from consumers to companies, have until Monday, July 7th to weigh in if so inclined, according to the inquiry announcement.<\/p>\n In addition to insights pertaining to the previously highlighted \u201cunfair and anticompetitive practices,\u201d the DOJ and the FTC are welcoming comments about \u201cthe competitive effects of current state and federal regulations and laws in the live concert and entertainment industry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe will continue to closely examine this market and look for opportunities where vigorous enforcement of the antitrust laws can lead to increased competition that makes tickets more affordable for fans while offering fairer compensation for artists,\u201d Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater added in part.<\/p>\n Time will, of course, reveal exactly what comes of the inquiry and different components of the executive order, which also instructed the FTC to ramp up enforcement of the Better Online Ticket Sales Act (BOTS Act<\/a>).<\/p>\n Today\u2019s announcement underscored that the commission is \u201ctaking the lead\u201d here. Though new charges have yet to materialize under the scalping-focused law, the FTC last month fired off a warning shot of sorts with an explainer<\/a> entitled \u201cBOTS Act compliance: Time for a refresher?\u201d<\/p>\n To name one immediate example, today\u2019s public-comments release also reiterated that the DOJ as well as 40 state and district attorneys general are litigating against<\/a> Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary over \u201cmonopolization and other unlawful conduct.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the House closed out April by overwhelmingly approving<\/a> the TICKET Act (which, in a nutshell, would mandate all-in pricing for tickets), and senators from both sides of the aisle kicked off a new round of Live Nation antitrust scrutiny.<\/p>\n This time, the involved lawmakers (who aren\u2019t strangers to expressing concerns about the Ticketmaster parent\u2019s operations) are zeroing in on a Fanatics pact<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section><\/div>\nIn the bigger picture, one needn\u2019t be a Washington insider to sense the bipartisan regulatory mood regarding crowd-based entertainment. <\/strong><\/h4>\n