Live Nation boss DEFENDS company ticket pricing practices in antitrust trial... after staffers 'mocked' concert-goers in mean emails about extortionate prices

The CEO of Live Nation defended his company's alleged price-gauging tactics as he took the stand during the antitrust trial after it was revealed that ticketing directors had bragged about the eye-popping fees they could charge fans. 

Michael Rapino, who boasts a net worth of at least $950 million, said the industry was like the 'wild, wild west' and was once 'fragmented' before Live Nation came around during his testimony on Thursday in Manhattan federal court. 

The Justice Department and 40 states filed an antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, in 2024, accusing the firm of operating an illegal monopoly over live events in America. 

Both companies have been harshly criticized for service fees and a reputation for poor customer service, and calls for an investigation into Ticketmaster and Live Nation grew louder in 2022 after the botched rollout of tickets for Taylor Swift's sold-out Eras tour. 

On the stand, Rapino said his company brought 'business professionalism' to live events, leading its competitors to replicate their practices. 

'You want to build a better mousetrap than the other guys. We were ahead of the curve in owning ticketing, owning venues, and concert promotion,' he told the court.   

When grilled by Jeffrey Kessler, an attorney for the states, about surging ticket costs and complaints from artists, including Adele, Rapino threw his support behind his company. 

Adele was not allowed to sell tickets directly to fans through a third party, even after offering to cover the ticketing fees herself following ticket sale issues for her North American tour in 2015. 

In response, Rapino denied that happening, stating: 'We would never say no to Adele. We said no to the ticketing company trying to get free tickets.' 

Kessler also referred to a 2016 email where Rapino shared his concern over 'high' ticketing costs. 

'Our fees are too high. We can't defend them,' the executive said at the time. 

When questioned about it in court, Rapino said he couldn't recall the email or what it was about because it was sent 10 years ago. 

Kessler then asked Rapino if he was aware of the internal messages that were previously brought up in the trial, where a Live Nation employee gloated about 'robbing' fans, whom they called 'stupid.' 

Court documents from the federal lawsuit showed a series of messages from 2022 between Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold, two regional directors of ticketing for Live Nation amphitheaters, Bloomberg reported. 

In one exchange, the men discussed charging concertgoers $250 for a VIP parking spot.

'These people are so stupid, I almost feel bad taking advantage of them,' Baker wrote.

In another instance, Baker bragged about charging '$50 to park in the grass' and '$60 for closer grass.'

'Robbing them blind baby, that's how we do it,' he wrote as his colleague replied: 'lol.' 

While discussing ticket sale prices, Baker wrote, 'I gouge them on ancil [sic] prices to make up for it.'

Ancillary fees are charges applied to additional services not included in the main purchase price, such as parking.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Live Nation said it is investigating the matter.

'The Slack exchange from one junior staffer to a friend absolutely doesn't reflect our values or how we operate,' the company wrote.

'Because this was a private Slack message, leadership learned of this when the public did, and will be looking into the matter promptly.

'Our business only works when fans have great experiences, which is why we've capped amphitheater venue fees at 15 percent and have invested $1 billion in the last 18 months into US venues and fan amenities.'

In response to the messages, Rapino told the court: 'It's disgusting, and it's not how we operate.' 

When asked if his company has or plans to take disciplinary action against Baker, Rapino replied: 'I have it under review, and he has apologized. 

'We like to give our employees a break, and we don't fire easily.' 

Baker is the head of Venue Nation, a branch of Live Nation that is responsible for operating the company's amphitheaters, according to the filing reviewed by NBC News. 

Andrew Gass, who is representing Live Nation, went on to quiz Rapino about allegations that the company forced venues and their wealthy owners into exclusive Ticketmaster contracts. 

Gass specifically asked if Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan was someone Rapino's company 'could push around.'  

'Certainly not. I don't tell a billionaire what to do with his venue. He tells me,' Rapino replied. 

The beleaguered CEO also denied claims that he threatened to withhold concerts at the Barclays Center in New York City after it chose a competitor instead of Ticketmaster. 

'It's going to be a tough time to deliver tickets or concerts with a new competitor in town, regardless of ticketing,' Rapino said in a call with former Barclays CEO John Abbamondi, the outlet reported. 

Two weeks prior, Abbamondi testified that he took Rapino's statement as a threat to move concerts to the UBS Arena, just outside of the Big Apple, and that Barclays saw a 'dramatic decline' in performances after letting go of Ticketmaster. 

In response, Rapino said he had 'zero' intent on threatening the venue.