Dancing in the Dark: An Analysis of the Live Entertainment Industry and the Deceptive Market Practices of Ticketmaster and Live Nation

Abstract

Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster control a wide range of areas within the live entertainment industry. Their current conduct in that industry regarding fees added to ticket prices is arguably in violation of Canada’s Competition Act. Canada’s Competition Bureau, the country’s economic watchdog, recently filed an application alleging that these fee add-ons constitute deceptive marketing practices. Ticketmaster’s defence in support of their fees is contradictory to their practices and is unreasonable and self-serving. Regardless of the outcome of the Competition Bureau’s application, federal legislation should be implemented to curb these marketing practices.