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Ticketmaster adjusts fees to comply with all-in pricing regulations

Economy & businessEconomy
Key Points
  • Ticketmaster eliminated order processing fees but raised other venue fees to offset revenue loss
  • Contracts show many venues had now-prohibited fees, with at least eight raising other fees after rule changes
  • Ticketmaster claims compliance with all-in pricing rules while facing antitrust scrutiny

Ticketmaster stopped charging order processing fees at checkout to comply with regulations banning surprise fees, but raised other fees at venues to offset the revenue loss, multiple reports indicate. In an email to the Findlay Toyota Center in Arizona, Ticketmaster wrote that it must adjust fees to offset the loss of order processing revenue, and the venue eliminated a $6 order processing fee but raised the service fee on each ticket by $2. The Guardian obtained contracts for 26 publicly owned venues around the country through a public records request, with nearly all describing an order processing fee that is no longer permitted.

At least eight venues amended their contracts to raise other fees following the all-in pricing rules. According to The Guardian, former regulators described that rolling an illegal fee into another charge could violate the FTC's rule against misrepresenting fees. Ticketmaster did not respond to detailed questions about how it responded to state and federal pricing regulations.

To account for the loss of order processing revenue, we must adjust fees to offset the revenue loss.

Ticketmaster, Company

com have displayed the full price upfront in line with the FTC's all-in pricing rule since May 2025. Live Nation Entertainment, which includes Ticketmaster, is facing an antitrust trial over allegations it operates an illegal monopoly in the live music industry. The Department of Justice abruptly reached a settlement with Live Nation Entertainment only days after the trial began in early March.

Since May 2025, tickets on Ticketmaster.com have displayed the full price upfront in line with the FTC’s all-in pricing rule. We also provide explanations of fees during the purchase process and maintain a dedicated page with additional information.

Ticketmaster, Company
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Ticketmaster adjusts fees to comply with all-in pricing regulations | Reed News