Live Nation is one of the largest ticket sellers and event promoters in the world. They sell tickets for concerts, sports events, theater shows, and more through their websites like Ticketmaster and LiveNation.com. With millions of tickets sold each year, Live Nation has established itself as a go-to place for event tickets.
However, some people have questioned if Live Nation tickets are always legitimate. There have been scattered reports over the years of fake or scam Live Nation tickets being sold online. This has raised doubts among some consumers about whether they can trust Live Nation for valid event tickets.
What is Live Nation?
Live Nation Entertainment is a global entertainment company that was formed in 2010 after a merger between Live Nation and Ticketmaster. The company specializes in booking live events, selling tickets, and promoting concerts and other live shows. Some of Live Nation’s key business areas include:
- Ticket sales through websites like Ticketmaster and LiveNation.com
- Owning and operating concert venues like House of Blues
- Representing and managing artists
- Organizing and promoting global concert tours
- Providing sponsorship and marketing services
With a presence in over 40 countries, Live Nation sells around 500 million tickets per year. They work with over 2,000 artists and have connections with more than 1,000 venues and festivals globally. This extensive network allows Live Nation to offer tickets to a wide array of live entertainment events.
Are all Live Nation tickets legitimate?
The vast majority of tickets sold through official Live Nation websites and partners are 100% legitimate. Millions of people purchase Live Nation tickets every year without issue. However, there are some important points to keep in mind:
- Fake tickets – There are unofficial resellers and scalpers who may try to sell fake or fraudulent Live Nation tickets online. Only buy from official Live Nation websites or verified partners.
- Resale restrictions – For very popular events, Live Nation tickets may have restrictions that prevent reselling or transferring. Make sure any resold tickets comply with policies.
- Checkout security – Only enter payment details on secure, HTTPS Live Nation websites to avoid your information being compromised.
- Double check details – Carefully check the ticket details including event name, date, seat numbers, barcodes and seller to spot any red flags.
Spotting fake Live Nation tickets
While fake Live Nation tickets are relatively uncommon, there are some steps you can take to identify fraudulent tickets and avoid scams:
- Unrealistic prices – If a ticket is being resold at a price that seems suspiciously low, it may be a sign it is not legitimate.
- Spelling errors – Fake tickets often have spelling mistakes, misprints and low quality images or logos.
- No barcodes – Genuine tickets have unique barcodes that are scanned upon entry. Fake tickets typically lack proper barcodes.
- Can’t be verified – There should be a way to verify the legitimacy of a ticket either on the Live Nation website or through customer service.
- Seller unresponsive – Resellers with fake tickets often become unresponsive or evasive when asked for confirmation or more details.
If a ticket fails some of these checks or you cannot get clear verification, it is best avoided as it could be fake or fraudulent.
Are resold Live Nation tickets valid?
It depends. Many Live Nation tickets can be securely resold through official resellers like StubHub with no problems. However, for very popular live events, Live Nation may implement special restrictions that prohibit reselling or transferring of tickets.
For example, tickets to big concerts or music festivals may state they are “non-transferable”. This means the person who originally bought the ticket must be the one to use it and show ID to enter. Before purchasing any resold Live Nation ticket, carefully check for any resale restrictions printed on the ticket.
If a Live Nation ticket states it is non-transferable or has similar language, it cannot legally be resold. If you purchase a resold ticket that is non-transferable, it will likely be rejected at the door and you will not get in.
Tips for buying resold Live Nation tickets
If you do choose to purchase resold Live Nation tickets, here are some tips to get valid tickets:
- Use trusted resale platforms – Stick to well-known secondary sellers like StubHub that offer buyer guarantees.
- Check policies – Read the fine print to check for any transfer or resale restrictions on the tickets.
- Confirm with seller – Ask for order confirmations and contact the seller to verify the tickets are legitimate.
- Pay securely – Only pay through secure payment services. Avoid wire transfers or cash payments.
- Verify tickets – Carefully check any tickets received to spot any red flags or irregularities.
- Act quickly – Valid tickets sell quickly. Be wary if a popular ticket is still available long after initial sales.
As long as you research the tickets and seller thoroughly, you can buy resold Live Nation tickets with confidence. But always be on the lookout for scams or fake ticket sales online.
How are fraudulent Live Nation tickets made?
While most fake Live Nation tickets are created manually, scammers are finding ways to mass produce fraudulent tickets thanks to modern technology:
- Sophisticated editing software makes it easier to expertly alter PDF ticket files and manipulate ticket details convincingly.
- High quality printers, including 3D printers, allow fake barcodes, logos and holograms to be added to fake tickets.
- Script bots can automatically generate fake ticket listings across multiple resale platforms making them hard to keep up with.
- Access to ticket templates, seating charts and event details online assists scammers in making forged tickets look authentic.
In some cases, insider employees with access to ticketing systems have been caught illegally generating and selling fake ticket files. Overall, the ways tickets can be faked are becoming more advanced and harder to detect.
How can you verify if a Live Nation ticket is real?
If you purchase a resold Live Nation ticket and want to verify if it is real, here are some steps you can take:
- Contact Live Nation – Customer service may be able to look up the ticket code and confirm it is legitimate.
- Check online – Log into your Ticketmaster account and look under order history for the ticket purchase record.
- Go to the venue – Take the physical ticket to the venue box office and ask staff to verify it.
- Scan it – Many venues have implemented ticket scanners you can use to check if a ticket will successfully scan properly.
- PDF verification – For digital tickets, validate the QR codes or barcodes through official verification apps or services.
If a ticket fails any of these verification methods, it is likely fake or fraudulent. Follow up with the reseller to get your money back in this case.
What happens if you are sold fake Live Nation tickets?
Being sold counterfeit or fake Live Nation tickets can completely ruin your plans to attend an event. If you purchase fake tickets, here are some possible outcomes:
- Denied entry – Fake tickets will fail scanning at the doors and security will not permit you to enter.
- No refunds – Venues and Live Nation will not offer refunds for fake tickets that were not purchased directly through them.
- Wasted money – Unless you can get recourse from whoever sold you the fakes, you will be out the money spent on bogus tickets.
- Missed event – You will not be able to see the concert, game or show you purchased tickets to attend.
- Further expenses – You may have to purchase new legitimate tickets at the last minute to attend, costing you even more money.
Getting duped with counterfeit tickets can ruin your plans and be extremely costly. Always buy from authorized sources and thoroughly validate any tickets to avoid this happening.
Can you get scammed on Ticketmaster?
Ticketmaster is Live Nation’s primary ticket sales platform. Ticketmaster has a generally good reputation and most tickets purchased directly through their site and apps are 100% authentic and valid.
However, there are some potential scams to be aware of when using Ticketmaster:
- Fake websites – Scammers create convincing fake Ticketmaster sites to steal personal and payment details.
- Resale scams – Fraudulent sellers list fake tickets on Ticketmaster resale without verification.
- Fee scams – Third-party sellers hide larger fees that only appear later in the checkout process.
- Account theft – Your Ticketmaster account credentials could get phished or stolen if you are not careful.
As long as you use proper cybersecurity practices, deal directly with Ticketmaster, and avoid shady third-party resellers, you can buy from Ticketmaster with confidence and avoid scams.
Common Live Nation ticket scams
Some of the most common Live Nation and Ticketmaster scams to watch out for include:
- Fake websites – Fraudulent sites impersonate Ticketmaster to steal money and personal information through phishing.
- Social media scams – Scammers on social media offer fake tickets or non-existent ticket giveaways.
- Reseller scams – Shady resellers on secondary markets sell counterfeit or already used tickets.
- VPN scalping – Bots use VPNs to disguise their location and buy up tickets despite geographic sale restrictions.
- Fake customer service – Scammers direct fans to fake customer service numbers to “resolve” ticket issues and steal financial information.
In general, always carefully research sellers, use official Live Nation and Ticketmaster sources, and avoid deals that seem too good to be true.
Are there any Ticketmaster lawsuits?
Ticketmaster has faced a number of lawsuits over its sales practices and fees over the years, including:
- 2018 – A class action lawsuit was filed against Ticketmaster for redirecting customers away from competitor AEG websites.
- 2019 – Ticketmaster paid $4.5 million in a settlement over deceptive web design and hidden fees.
- 2022 – Multiple suits were filed alleging Ticketmaster colluded with scalpers to help them resell tickets at inflated prices.
- 2022 – A lawsuit accused Ticketmaster of fraudulently representing its “Platinum Tickets” as being premium or high quality seats.
However, none of these lawsuits so far have specifically alleged Ticketmaster of being complicit in selling fake or fraudulent tickets. The lawsuits have mainly focused on anti-competitive practices and deceptive fees and marketing.
Is Live Nation tickets safe to buy in 2023?
Live Nation tickets purchased directly through official Live Nation sales channels like Ticketmaster are overwhelmingly safe and legitimate in 2023.
Live Nation sells hundreds of millions of tickets each year with relatively few reported incidents of fake tickets. The company has security systems in place to vet sellers, verify tickets and prevent fraud.
Nonetheless, scammers are constantly getting more sophisticated. When buying tickets resold through secondary platforms, extra research and verification is required. As long as savvy online practices are followed, Live Nation tickets remain a secure option.
Conclusion
Live Nation has established itself as one of the dominant players in the event ticketing industry. The vast majority of tickets sold through their official platforms are legitimate and valid. However, buyers should be cautious of potential scams and counterfeits when purchasing tickets through unverified resellers.
Carefully research sellers, watch for red flags like prices that seem too good to be true, and thoroughly verify the authenticity of any tickets purchased. As long as smart practices are used, Live Nation tickets can be bought with overall confidence. The few fraudulent tickets that do exist can be weeded out through vigilance and safe buying habits.
