Massachusetts has enacted a controversial new ticketing law as part of its Economic Development Bill that significantly impacts how concert and event tickets can be resold. The law requires customers to resell tickets exclusively through the platform where they were originally purchased, effectively giving companies like Ticketmaster greater control over the secondary market.

Live Nation executives defend the legislation, claiming it targets professional ticket brokers who use bots to purchase large quantities of tickets intended for fans. Dan Wall, Live Nation's VP of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, emphasizes the law aims to prevent scalpers from manipulating ticket prices.

Consumer advocacy groups, including MASSPIRG, express concerns about the law's impact on ticket prices. Dierdre Cummings from MASSPIRG warns that Ticketmaster could potentially buy tickets at face value and resell them at higher prices, maintaining elevated ticket costs.

StubHub opposes the law, labeling it anti-competitive and favorable to Ticketmaster and Live Nation. They are actively encouraging lawmakers to revise the legislation to prevent a ticketing monopoly in Massachusetts.

This development comes amid increased scrutiny of Live Nation, with the U.S. Department of Justice pursuing an anti-trust investigation into the company's competitive practices. Critics, including Chamber of Progress Senior Director Todd O'Boyle, argue that despite Massachusetts joining the federal anti-trust suit, the new law contradictorily strengthens Live Nation's market position and may negatively impact sports fans' access to events.

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