Live Nation/Ticketmaster has publicly supported the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) new rule banning "junk fees" in the live ticketing and hospitality industries. The regulation, passed on December 17th, requires businesses to display total prices, including all mandatory fees, upfront during the purchasing process.

Key aspects of the new FTC rule:

• Mandatory display of total prices including all fees
• Prominent placement of total price over other pricing information
• Prohibition of hidden charges and deceptive advertising
• Applies to live event tickets, hotels, and vacation rentals

Live Nation has already implemented all-in pricing at their venues and festivals, stating this industry-wide mandate will improve transparency and reduce abandoned purchases at checkout.

Expected benefits according to the FTC:

• Save consumers 53 million hours annually in price-searching time
• Generate approximately $11 billion in savings over ten years
• Eliminate confusion about final costs

The measure passed with a 4-1 vote by FTC commissioners, with Commissioner Andrew Ferguson casting the sole dissenting vote.

FTC Chair Lina M. Khan emphasized the rule's importance, stating consumers deserve upfront pricing transparency without concern for hidden charges. The commission encourages state and federal policymakers to expand similar protections across the economy.

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