Live Nation facing multi-million dollar class action lawsuit after huge Ticketmaster data breach

Hackers obtained details from 560million customers, and threatened to sell the data for $500,000

Live Nation is facing a multi-million dollar class action lawsuit, following the huge Ticketmaster data breach earlier this year, according to reports.

According to Consequence, the lawsuit comes after it was reported in April this year that a hacker group called ShinyHunters had accessed the Ticketmaster database and stolen 1.3 terabytes of data.

The two companies merged in 2010, and following the hack earlier this year, details, including full names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, ticket sales and event details, order information, and partial payment card data from both, were allegedly obtained from 560million customers. ShinyHunters then threatened to sell the data for $500,000 (£393,800).

Initially, Ticketmaster urged its users to carry out checks due to the data breach, before confirming the matter in May via an SEC filing. According to the filing, the company reportedly identified unauthorised activity on “a third-party cloud database environment containing Company data” on May 20, and proceeded to launch an investigation.

Now, the proposed class action lawsuit has been reported by outlets including Consequence, and accuses Ticketmaster and Live Nation of negligent behaviour prior to the breach. According to the reports, it claims Ticketmaster failed to protect the data of its customers, and failed to put security measures in place to prevent attacks.

It also alleges that Ticketmaster did not inform customers that their data had been breached in a timely manner.

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As per the filing, millions of users are allegedly at increased risk of identity theft and spam, and the hack by ShinyHunters was a result of inadequate data protection procedures. It is seeking unspecified damages for upwards of $5million (£3.8m).

This is a developing story, NME has reached out to both Ticketmaster and Live Nation for comment.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, ShinyHunters have reportedly stolen 900 million consumer records in hacks targeting companies including Pizza Hut, AT&T, GitHub and more.

Reports of the data breach came just days after the United Justice Department filed a sprawling antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, and alleged that the ticket giant has taken abusive steps to remove competition in the United States.

Since then, Ticketmaster has been under fire for its use of dynamic pricing amid the Oasis‘ 2025 reunion tour.

Tickets for the 2025 stadium tour went on sale in August and saw many fans left feeling frustrated when they found they were priced out of tickets when they went to buy them. This came as the surge pricing meant the cost of tickets could go up or down without warning based on demand.

Some fans who had been in the queue the entire day paid £355 for a ticket which was originally £135 when it came to confirm their purchase. Ticketmaster had previously clarified on their website that ticket pieces “may increase or decrease at any time, based on demand. This is similar to how airline tickets and hotel rooms are sold.”

The controversy led Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to call for a review into dynamic pricing and secondary ticket sales, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the price hikes “depressing”. In addition, the European Commission is also now investigating the issue. 

Similarly, following the backlash, consumer brand Which? called for Ticketmaster to “do the right thing and refund the difference to fans who may have been misled into paying huge sums for tickets that were half the price just hours earlier”.

A representative for Ticketmaster commented when approached by Which?: “We are committed to cooperating with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and look forward to sharing more facts about the ticket sale with them.”

When approached for further comment by NME, a Ticketmaster spokesperson said: “Fans can resell their Oasis tickets at the full price they paid through Ticketmaster or Twickets.” The spokesperson also shared further information that tickets bought via Ticketmaster can be refunded in full for up to 24 hours after purchase via its Fan Guarantee program. After 24 hours, tickets will no longer be refundable, and can instead be sold.”