The National Independent Venues Association (NIVA) has expressed dissatisfaction with recent policy changes from Ticketmaster, calling them “too little and too late.” This response follows a letter from Live Nation’s executive vice president, Daniel M. Wall, addressed to Senators Marsha Blackburn and Ben Ray Luján. The NIVA is urging Live Nation to implement a cap on resale prices for tickets sold through Ticketmaster, a move they believe is necessary to restore trust among fans and artists.
In his letter, Wall addressed questions related to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lawsuit filed last month, which accused Live Nation of enabling predatory ticket reselling practices. While Wall announced the discontinuation of the controversial TradeDesk ticket uploading application and emphasized stricter enforcement of their one-account-per-person rule, NIVA officials remain unconvinced. They argue that Live Nation’s response fails to adequately address the core issues at hand, particularly the company’s historical collaboration with ticket brokers who purchase tickets in bulk to resell at inflated prices.
NIVA has long advocated for a cap on resale ticket prices and criticized Live Nation’s actions as insufficient to regain the confidence of stakeholders in the live music industry. The association’s statement pointed out that Live Nation “got caught opening up their systems to predatory resellers.” They refer to the FTC’s September lawsuit, which claims that the company ignored the misuse of multiple accounts by ticket brokers.
Wall countered these claims in his correspondence, asserting that the lawsuit misconstrues the facts and legal context. He contended that Ticketmaster has taken significant steps to combat scalping and fraud, more than any of its competitors. Nevertheless, NIVA described Wall’s letter as an attempt to mitigate the damage to Live Nation’s public image following the FTC’s actions. They highlighted concerns that the company benefits from its relationship with scalpers and resale platforms, such as StubHub and Vivid Seats.
“The meaningful way to repair the damage done by Live Nation’s alleged collusion with scalpers,” the NIVA statement continued, “is for them to voluntarily cap resale tickets on their resale platform at no more than the face value of the original ticket.” They concluded by expressing hope that the U.S. Department of Justice, along with 40 state attorneys general, would take action against Live Nation to end its anti-competitive practices.
Furthermore, officials from the National Independent Talent Association (NITO), which represents independent managers and agents, also responded to Wall’s letter. They emphasized that Ticketmaster and similar platforms should refrain from reselling tickets above face value, arguing that such practices harm artists and their fans. NITO expressed support for the FTC’s initiatives, which have prompted Ticketmaster to reform its systems, including the cancellation of multiple broker accounts.
As the situation continues to unfold, the live music community remains vigilant. The Billboard Live Music Summit is scheduled for November 3, 2025, in Los Angeles, where industry stakeholders will gather to discuss these pressing issues. For registration details, interested parties can visit the official summit website.
