Live Nation Employee Says He Regrets Calling Customers ‘So Stupid’ as Antitrust Trial Continues

Benjamin Baker, the head of ticketing for Venue Nation, offered a contrite testimony on Tuesday as part of a major antitrust trial targeting his corporate parent, Live Nation Entertainment. Confronted with internal messages from 2022 that were admitted as evidence, Baker described his past remarks about customers as "very immature and unacceptable." In those messages, he had referred to some patrons as "so stupid" and boasted to a colleague that the company was "robbing them blind, baby."

The exchange was prompted by lawyer Jeffrey Kessler, who represents a coalition of over 30 states pursuing the lawsuit. Kessler focused on messages concerning VIP parking at a show at Tampa's MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, a Live Nation-managed venue. Baker had called the $50 fee "outrageous" and wrote, "I almost feel bad taking advantage" of customers, followed by laughter. Under questioning, Baker became emotional, his voice breaking as he expressed regret and claimed his language merely conveyed surprise at market pricing. Kessler sharply countered this defense, stating, "You could have charged $25!" and directly quoting Baker's earlier "robbing them blind" comment.

Since the 2022 messages were sent, Baker has received two promotions. He stressed that his comments reflected personal views and not Live Nation's official policy, an argument the company itself has made in seeking to exclude the statements as "off-the-cuff banter." This testimony forms a crucial element of the states' ongoing case, which proceeds independently of the U.S. Justice Department's recent surprise settlement of its parallel antitrust suit. Legal experts suggest that while such internal communications may not prove illegal monopoly power, they can powerfully illustrate corporate culture and attitudes toward consumers in a less competitive market.

The trial centers on Live Nation Entertainment, the industry titan created by the 2010 merger of concert promoter Live Nation and ticketing behemoth Ticketmaster. The combined entity holds unprecedented control, managing major venues, promoting tours, and operating the dominant ticketing platform—a vertical integration that plaintiffs argue stifles competition. This market concentration is the core of the states' allegations of consumer harm through monopolistic practices. The outcome could potentially reshape the live events landscape, influencing everything from ticket pricing to artist and venue contracts.