For at least a decade, Live Nation and Ticketmaster made a killing by charging fans deceptive hidden fees.
Now, we are putting millions back in the pockets of fans in DC and requiring the company to be up front with customers.
The ticket price you see should be the price you actually pay.
Live Nation will also maintain transparency improvements to its platform:
✅ Showing the full ticket price — including fees — up front and throughout the purchase
✅ Sharing more information about each fee, its purpose, and who profits from it
✅ Making its ticket-hold timer message more accurate
Our settlement requires Live Nation to pay $9.9 million to the District.
The District will refund $8.9 million to DC fans who had to pay Ticketmaster's hidden fees and endure deceptive ticket sales tactics for a decade.
OAG will announce the details of a claims process in the coming months.
In 2025, in response to our investigation and the FTC's Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, Live Nation made changes to its platform.
Critically, it implemented all-in pricing.
With OAG's input, Live Nation also updated its fee disclosures and pop-up warnings that appear while you shop.
We uncovered evidence that Live Nation misled fans by:
➡️ Advertising deceptively-low ticket prices, then hiking the price at checkout with hidden fees
➡️ Concealing the purpose of fees
➡️ Using misleading pressure tactics, like countdown clocks and pop-up warnings, regardless of actual event demand
NEW: Live Nation and Ticketmaster will pay $9.9 million to DC for charging predatory hidden fees and be required to display all fees up front in the total ticket cost.
This case is separate from our anti-monopoly lawsuit against Live Nation.
We are fighting for fairness for fans on every front.
Under our settlement, the companies will:
✅ Pay $279,000 in restitution and penalties
✅ Change their operations to give janitors more control over their own work, pricing, and hours
✅ Stop using restrictive noncompete clauses that prevent janitors from pursuing other cleaning work
JPI and Jan-Pro of Washington promised janitors independence and entrepreneurial success.
Instead, we alleged that they treated janitors as employees without providing the benefits employees are entitled to under District law.
They also illegally deducted from janitors’ wages with illegal fees.
WORKER WIN: Dozens of exploited janitors in DC are getting their money back and more control over their work.
After our lawsuit alleging illegal worker misclassification, two janitorial franchise companies will pay $279,000 and reform their policies.
OAG will always defend the rights of workers.
Drawing of first Emancipation Day celebration in DC in 1866.
First page of the DC Compensated Emancipation Act signed into law by President Lincoln.
"For the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia."
164 years ago today, President Lincoln signed the DC Compensated Emancipation Act.
It abolished slavery in DC, freed 3,100 enslaved DC residents, and marked the "first blow against the edifice of slavery."
DC and a bipartisan coalition of 33 states refused to join the Department of Justice's settlement because it failed to hold Live Nation accountable.
Now, a jury has declared Live Nation to be an illegal monopoly — and awarded damages for years of exploitation.
BREAKING: We just won our antitrust trial against LiveNation and Ticketmaster.
Live Nation has raked in billions in profits from an illegal monopoly that coerces venues, restricts artists, and exploits fans.
This is a massive win in the fight for fairness for local venues, artists, and fans.
At the request of Ward 5 community members, we are extending the nomination deadline for trustees to oversee the $5 million DC Healthcare Access Trust.
We invite nominees with expertise in mixed-use real estate, nonprofit healthcare, or charitable trusts.
Make a nomination by Wednesday, April 22.
Really appreciate @dcattorneygeneral.bsky.social's consumer protection resources. They respond so promptly and don't over-promise results, but often deliver in some form. I've had to work with them on multiple unfortunate instances and they've been a big help.
Are you a government or nonprofit employee with student loans?
Our webinar today at noon is focused on recent changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and Income Driven Repayment (IDR) plans. 👇
Misclassification hurts workers because it denies them even the most basic workplace protections.
But it also hurts the District because it allows employers to avoid taxes that fund public programs like unemployment benefits and workers' comp.
And it disadvantages businesses that follow the law.
Under our other settlement, DRCC will:
✅ Pay $56,250 in worker restitution
✅ Pay $46,489 in penalties to the District
✅ Ensure all workers at its job sites are classified properly through certified payrolls and audits
✅ Stop employing subcontractors with unresolved misclassification violations
Under our settlement, Pedro & Pablo will:
✅ Pay $135,750 in worker restitution
✅ Pay $57,500 in penalties to the District
✅ Reclassify its entire workforce as employees
✅ Submit to OAG monitoring through 2027
DRCC is a Maryland company that does construction work in DC.
We alleged that since 2021, DRCC has employed subcontractors like Pedro & Pablo that misclassify workers at job sites in DC.
Dozens of workers at DRCC construction projects were denied the wages and benefits they were legally owed.
Pedro & Pablo is a Virginia company that does drywall installation and other construction work in DC.
We alleged that from 2021 to the present, the company misclassified workers as independent contractors.
As a result, workers were denied labor protections like paid sick leave and workers' comp.
DC WORKER WIN: More than 100 construction workers who were illegally misclassified are getting their money back.
We secured $302,000 from two drywall companies that deprived workers of wages and benefits they were owed.
Both companies are also changing their practices to comply with District law.
A flyer for DC Board of Elections Ranked Choice Voting Townhalls. It lists four events with dates, times, and locations: March 11 at MLK Library, March 14 at Anacostia Library, March 24 at Bellevue/William O. Lockridge Library, and March 28 at Benning/Dorothy I. Height Library. There are logos for the DC Public Library and the DC Board of Elections.
🗳️ Curious about Ranked Choice Voting? Get the facts before the next election at the DC Board of Elections Ranked Choice Voting Townhall with the DC Board of Elections. Learn how RCV works, ask questions & get election-ready.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/40FB19Q
SCAM ALERT Graphic that shows an example of a scam text and reads “The DC DMV does not send notices like this. Do not click on any links - ignore it and ‘report junk’. And drive safe DC!”
SCAM ALERT: OAG has received multiple reports from DC residents about texts citing fake traffic tickets.
These texts are scams that target your personal information and hard-earned money.
Never click on the link — and always rely on the DC DMV’s website to look up and pay traffic tickets.
Some D.C. developers are exploiting voucher programs to convert affordable rent-controlled properties into lucrative, voucher-only buildings.
Contributor Suzie Amanuel spoke with tenants and pored over court filings and public records to bring you the story:
Every dollar parents pay in child support should benefit kids — not fund the government's operational costs.
Enforcing DC traffic laws is about making our roads safer.
Our latest STEER Act enforcement includes a driver who struck a 12-year-old child in a crosswalk.
The child's mom said it best:
"They need to slow down. Nothing is that important that it’s worth risking your life or other people’s lives."
Safety messages from NWS re severe storms Monday, which includes tornado chance. Please stay weather aware; this is HIGHER-END threat. Concern re treefalls. Avoid driving in high winds, wait it out; During any warnings, shelter in interior room at lowest floor, away from windows.
We sued Live Nation and Ticketmaster to end their illegal monopoly over live music.
That fight is not over.
DC and a bipartisan group of states refused to join the Department of Justice’s settlement.
On Monday, we will return to court and keep fighting for fairness for artists, venues, and fans.
18 months ago, a 12-year-old was struck in a crosswalk while walking from school to the library — even though she had the light.
Today, thanks to CM Allen's STEER Act, the driver who hit her has been held accountable in court.
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Ward 5 community, join us to discuss the DC Healthcare Access Trust nomination process:
🖥️ Online Public Meeting
Wednesday, March 18 at 6:30pm
RSVP: oag.dc.gov/ProvidenceMarch18
📚 In-Person Public Meeting
Thursday, April 2 at 6pm
Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J Huff Library
RSVP: oag.dc.gov/ProvidenceApril2
