Live Nation employee mocks Tampa concertgoers for paying high prices, says company is ‘robbering them blind, baby’

Internal messages from a Live Nation employee mocking Tampa concertgoers as “so stupid” and stating the company is “robbing them blind, baby” have been made public during an antitrust trial against Live Nation and Ticketmaster. These messages, highlighted by government lawyers, are being considered as evidence in the trial where states and the federal government accuse the companies of squelching competition and driving up prices. Live Nation argues the messages are “off-the-cuff banter” and do not reflect company policy or relate to the antitrust claims, though they have stated they will investigate the matter.