Live Nation Staffers Mocked Fans in Leaked Slack Messages

Newly unsealed messages show ticketing directors joking about "gouging" concertgoers.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 10:30am

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Newly released Slack messages between two Live Nation ticketing directors show them mocking fans and boasting about "robbing them blind" with high prices for ancillary fees like parking and VIP upgrades. The messages, which were part of a Justice Department antitrust case against the Ticketmaster parent company, contradict Live Nation's public claims of valuing fans.

Why it matters

The leaked Slack messages provide a rare glimpse into Live Nation's internal culture and attitudes toward concertgoers, undermining the company's public image as a fan-focused entertainment provider. This could further damage public trust in Live Nation and fuel ongoing antitrust scrutiny of the company's dominance in the live events industry.

The details

The Slack messages, dating from late 2021 to early 2023, show two Live Nation ticketing directors - Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold - joking about "gouging" fans and calling them "so stupid" for paying high prices. In one example, they celebrated a venue generating $666,000 in "premier parking" revenue in a year. Live Nation had tried to keep the messages sealed, arguing they were private jokes, but the judge ordered their release.

  • The Slack messages were exchanged between late 2021 and early 2023.
  • The messages were unsealed and released in March 2026 as part of a Justice Department antitrust case against Live Nation.

The players

Live Nation

The world's largest live entertainment company and parent company of Ticketmaster.

Ben Baker

Head of ticketing for the Venue Nation division of Live Nation.

Jeff Weinhold

A senior ticketing director for Live Nation in the Washington, D.C. area.

Justice Department

The U.S. federal agency that filed an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation.

Judge Arun Subramanian

The judge who ordered the release of the Slack messages after a request from several news outlets.

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What they’re saying

“gouging" concertgoers for parking and VIP upgrades”

— Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold, Live Nation ticketing directors (New York Times)

“so stupid" for paying”

— Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold, Live Nation ticketing directors (New York Times)

“robbing them blind baby”

— Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold, Live Nation ticketing directors (New York Times)

What’s next

The future of the Justice Department's antitrust case against Live Nation is uncertain, as the federal government and Live Nation have reached a proposed settlement, but not all 39 states involved have agreed to it.

The takeaway

The leaked Slack messages reveal a troubling disconnect between Live Nation's public rhetoric about valuing fans and the private attitudes of its ticketing staff, who appear to view concertgoers as targets to be "gouged" and "robbed blind." This could further undermine public trust in the company and intensify scrutiny of its business practices.