Live Nation has agreed to pay $9.9 million to settle allegations by the District of Columbia that the company engaged in deceptive ticket pricing practices over the past decade. The settlement, announced Monday by D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, addresses claims that Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary misled consumers about ticket costs, imposed hidden fees, and applied undue pressure tactics to encourage purchases.

Under the terms of the agreement, up to $8.9 million will be refunded to District residents who bought event tickets through Live Nation or Ticketmaster since 2015. Schwalb’s office indicated it will provide details on how customers can submit claims in the coming months.

“For at least a decade, Live Nation and Ticketmaster boosted profits by charging predatory, hidden fees — taking advantage of D.C. residents buying tickets for their favorite artist or team and pricing others out entirely,” Schwalb said. He added that the settlement is intended to ensure transparency so that the price displayed at the start of ticket shopping reflects the final amount paid by consumers.

The District’s investigation found that from 2015 until May 2025, Live Nation advertised ticket prices that did not include mandatory fees until buyers reached the checkout page, obscuring the true cost. Additionally, the company failed to clearly explain the nature of the fees. D.C. officials also said Live Nation used countdown timers and pop-up alerts warning that tickets were selling fast or nearly sold out if users remained inactive for more than a minute, regardless of actual demand—tactics deemed misleading under the District’s consumer protection laws.

Live Nation began showing the full ticket price upfront and providing clearer information about fees and ticket hold timers in 2025, changes that followed the District’s investigation and the introduction of a Federal Trade Commission rule prohibiting businesses from hiding total prices or misrepresenting fees. As part of the settlement, the company committed to maintaining these practices.

Live Nation denies all allegations of wrongdoing or violation of consumer protection statutes but agreed to the settlement to fully resolve the dispute, according to court filings. The agreement is separate from a broader antitrust lawsuit filed by D.C. and multiple states in May 2024, which accused Live Nation of monopolizing the live event market; a jury ruled against Live Nation in that case last week.

Officials from Live Nation and Ticketmaster did not respond to requests for comment on the settlement Monday.