‘Execution’: Live Nation CEO slams allegations

Waleed Aly grilled the head of touring giant Live Nation over the company’s hidden fees and soaring ticket costs that are pricing fans out of concerts.

Live Nation Australasia CEO Michael Coppel has hit back at claims that the company is the reason for the downfall of the Australian music industry due to the “hidden” costs of ticketing.

Over 1,300 venues have shut down and major festivals have been bought out, cancelled, and closed over the last few years.

An investigation by ABC’s Four Corners has claimed that Live Nation’s ticketing arm Ticketmaster are maximising profits at the expense of both consumers and artists.

It also alleges that musicians have been nervous to speak out against Live Nation for fear of the repercussions to their touring careers.

Coppel was grilled on The Project on Monday evening over some of the extra charges being pushed onto consumers when buying concert tickets.

Waleed Aly grilled Live Nation's CEO on The Project. Picture: Twitter.

“It’s always an interesting conversation when you schedule an execution and then you have the trial and the evidence a week later,” said Coppel, who claimed the ABC only gave them “hours” to respond to the investigation, something the broadcaster has denied.

“I think it’s a great shame the live performance industry is going through a huge boom, and yet there’s a focus on the negative.”

“Hidden fees” can raise the price of a ticket exponentially for Aussies. For example, a ticket over $65 at the Palais Theatre in Melbourne, music fans can be charged up to $30 to $40 in fees.

“Why are there so many hidden fees?” questioned Georgie Tunny.

“I disagree with the question of it being hidden. Under Australian consumer law, we have to quote an ‘all in’ price. There’s then also a transaction fee for the delivery of the tickets and after sales support,” replied Coppel.

“What about something called an ‘inside charge’, even industry professionals don’t seem to know what that is …” probed Tunny.

“The inside charge is the set of fees that is included inside the charge of the ticket. That’s to produce the all in price that the ACCC requires us to advertise.”

“Sorry,” interrupted Waleed Aly. “I don’t know what that means, what does that actually mean?”

Michael Coppel attempted to explain what the "hidden" charges are when buying tickets, but the panel were left confused. Picture: Twitter.

“It’s an inside charge that’s included in the price of the ticket, and there’s a transaction fee which is the outside charge which is the one disclosed as an additional cost,” continued the CEO. “I think a lot of people don’t look at the intricacies of the ticketing industry. You have to support a computer network, a call centre, software developers.”

Ticket prices have become a huge talking point over the last few years, with Australians sometimes paying in the thousands for tickets to see the likes of Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo.

The ABC investigation has sparked suggestions of a class action against Live Nation and its ticketing arm Ticketmaster on behalf of Australian music fans who have grown frustrated with the company’s practice called “dynamic pricing”, a process where a ticket price goes up as an event gets more popular.

When pushed as to whether Live Nation is contributing to a situation in Australia where live music is becoming something only the wealthy can afford, Coppel disagreed.

“I don’t think we are,” he told the panel. “If you look at the average ticket price in 2004 it was $75 in Australia. Last year it was $128. The reality is what else in 20 years hasn’t quadrupled in price.”

As part of its investigation, ABC’s Four Corners has urged the federal government to step in and regulate live music to ensure the survival of Australia’s once thriving music scene.

Watch Four Corners’ investigation, Music for Sale, tonight from 8:30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.

Originally published as ‘Execution’: Live Nation CEO slams allegations