DOJ File Shows Live Nation Staff Slack Pricing Talk
The U.S. Department of Justice has released unredacted Slack messages between two Live Nation-related ticketing employees, revealing blunt internal chatter about premium pricing tactics, VIP parking markups and “platinum” ticket allocations. The messages, disclosed on a court docket tied to the government’s antitrust case, are drawing renewed scrutiny of how concertgoers are charged amid the broader Live Nation-Ticketmaster debate.
The exchange involved Ben Baker, described as head of ticketing for Venue Nation, and Jeff Weinhold, identified as a senior director of ticketing at Live Nation, with the conversation beginning in the early hours of January 28, 2022 and continuing for weeks; Decibel News reported that DOJ attorney Bonny Sweeney first filed a redacted version in a March 9 motion and later reposted the documents without redactions after media requests.
In the messages, the two discuss a Kid Rock and Foreigner show booked at Jiffy Lube Live and compare notes on raising add-on costs, including VIP parking pricing. One section shows Mr. Baker reacting to an event report he called “fucking outrageous” before the pair joke about pushing parking to $250 and describe fans as “so fucking stupid,” according to excerpts reproduced in the filing.
The documents also touch on the handling of premium inventory, with Mr. Weinhold writing he was “up to 1,700 allocated platinum for Kid Rock,” and the two discussing markups and sales numbers for high-priced seats. Another exchange references ADA tickets and whether to cancel them when quickly relisted, while a later message includes Mr. Baker telling his colleague, “Robbing them blind baby. That’s how we do.”
Live Nation, in a statement carried in the report, said the “private Slack message” did not reflect company values and said leadership learned of it when it became public, adding that it would look into the matter. The release lands just days after the DOJ announced a settlement with Live Nation, and the unredacted language is now likely to be cited as the case moves toward trial.
