Live Nation Ticketing Director Apologises After ‘Robbing Them Blind’ Messages Fallout

A Live Nation ticketing director has apologised for internal messages labelling concertgoers “so stupid”, which surfaced earlier this month during legal proceedings in the company’s antitrust case.

The messages between Ben Baker and his colleague Jeff Weinhold were revealed as part of evidence presented in a US federal court, where Live Nation and its ticketing arm Ticketmaster are facing ongoing claims of anti-competitive conduct.

The directors discussed adding high-margin extras in the messages, such as premium parking and preferred seating packages at amphitheatres. In one message, Baker wrote of fans: “These people are so stupid. I almost feel bad taking advantage of them.” In another, he celebrated s pricing strategy, writing: “Robbing them blind, baby. That’s how we do,” to which Weinhold replied: “Lol”.

Per Variety, Baker testified in court on Tuesday, acknowledging the language was inappropriate. He stated it did not reflect the company’s broader approach to customers or pricing, and clarified that the messages represented his personal views rather than official policy.

According to the Associated Press, Baker became emotional and his voice briefly broke as he said, “I used very immature and regrettable language and that was not the language I was trying to convey.”

Live Nation and Ticketmaster have been the subjects of an antitrust case brought by the US Department of Justice, with regulators and state attorneys general alleging its market power harms competition and inflates costs for fans.

The case centred on allegations that Live Nation leveraged its control of major venues and tours to pressure arenas and amphitheatres into long-term exclusive ticketing agreements with Ticketmaster. Prosecutors argued the company’s integrated model gave limited choice for venues, restricted rival ticketing platforms, and weakened competitive pressure on fees and service standards.

Live Nation denied the allegations. A lawyer for the company, David Marriott, insisted it “did not have monopoly power” during his opening statement. He argued instead that the live entertainment “marketplace is more competitive than ever it has been before”, asserting that “every customer we get is a hard-fought battle in a competitive market”.

While earlier in the month Live Nation and Ticketmaster settled the antitrust case, Baker is among the key witnesses as claims from the prosecutors continues. The settlement will not force Live Nation and Ticketmaster, which merged in 2010, to be broken up, but the live entertainment giant will reportedly face a fine of approximately $300 million as well as be forced to implement several changes to its business.