The pre-sale for Kendrick Lamar and SZA's 'Grand National Tour' has sparked widespread criticism of Ticketmaster's ticketing process, with fans reporting significant issues.

Key Issues Reported by Fans:

• Extended wait times and queue problems
• High service fees ($60 fees on $159 tickets)
• Expensive nosebleed seats ($350)
• Concerns about ticket brokers getting priority access

Ticketmaster has defended its practices, stating they "never prioritize brokers over fans" and have invested heavily in technology to block bad actors.

Legal Challenges:

• The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Live Nation and Ticketmaster for anticompetitive practices
• Multiple state attorneys general are seeking to dissolve the 2010 Live Nation/Ticketmaster merger
• The DOJ alleges monopolistic practices through:
  • Exclusive venue agreements
  • Restrictive promotional services contracts
  • Retaliation against competing companies

Past Controversies:

• A former Ticketmaster executive pleaded guilty to hacking a competitor's platform
• The executive, Stephen Mead, shared 85,000 confidential documents from Songkick with Ticketmaster
• Songkick filed a lawsuit in 2015 alleging market power abuse by Live Nation and Ticketmaster

The ongoing issues highlight broader concerns about competition and consumer protection in the concert ticketing industry, with fans continuing to face challenges accessing tickets at reasonable prices.

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