Taylor Swift and the Ticketmaster Disaster
Case
Teaching Notes
Abstract
The stranglehold that Ticketmaster and Live Nation have on the events industry came into sharp relief last year after Taylor Swift announced her first world tour in five years. Millions of fans flocked to buy tickets, only for Ticketmaster to temporarily cancel sales to the general public during the presale chaos. The botched rollout left many fans furious—and sparked a Justice Department investigation into the companies’ alleged anticompetitive practices. This case examines the debacle and asks students to discuss what it means for Ticketmaster and Live Nation.
This case was prepared for inclusion in Sage Business Cases primarily as a basis for classroom discussion or self-study, and is not meant to illustrate either effective or ineffective management styles. Nothing herein shall be deemed to be an endorsement of any kind. This case is for scholarly, educational, or personal use only within your university, and cannot be forwarded outside the university or used for other commercial purposes.
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