\t\t\t\t\tRelated\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\u201cEffective April 23, 2026, tickets in Ontario cannot be resold above the total original cost, including service fees and taxes,\u201d the email reads.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cBeginning next week, you will be able to relist your tickets in compliance with Ontario\u2019s new legal requirements once updates have been made to our resale marketplace.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tTicketmaster\u00a0confirmed its ticket sales cap to CP24<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWith the legislation coming into force shortly, we have begun contacting all fans with tickets listed on our resale platform to let them know we have delisted their tickets from\u00a0our marketplace,\u201d a Ticketmaster Canada spokesperson said.<\/p>\n \n\tIt\u2019s a part of the newly passed budget bill,\u00a0Bill 97<\/a>, but it has yet to receive royal assent. The new legislation will require secondary sellers to provide proof of original price when listing a ticket for sale, and mandate disclosure of original and resale prices to buyers, with secondary market platforms to retain records for a minimum of three years after the event.<\/p>\n \n\tFollowing the Ford government\u2019s announcement, Live Nation, which is merged with Ticketmaster, posted\u00a0a statement to social media<\/a>, supporting the decision. \u201cWe are in favour of measures that promote fair, transparent ticketing and curb exploitative resale practices,\u201d the company wrote.<\/p>\n \n\tWhile it\u2019s a step in the right direction, it\u2019s unclear how Ticketmaster\u2019s policies will be integrated into the new Ontario legislation, and whether the ticketing company will recoup the service fees and taxes or the reseller.<\/p>\n \n\tRead more\u00a0here<\/a>. \u2014\u00a0Heather Taylor-Singh<\/p>\n \t\tWhat Will The Live Nation Antitrust Verdict Mean For Canadian Live Music and Ticketing?\t<\/p>\n \n\tIn the week since Live Nation\u00a0lost its blockbuster antitrust trial<\/a>, many in the music industry have been wondering\u00a0what\u2019s next<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 not just in the U.S., but in Canada too.<\/p>\n \n\tThough the verdict applies solely to the U.S., where the Department of Justice and a coalition of states held the trial, its consequences could spread north of the border.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tRelated\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tIn its verdict, the jury found that Live Nation was acting as an illegal monopoly, controlling the market for ticketing services, concert ticketing and the use of amphitheatres, and that it illegally tied the use of its venues to its concert promotion services.<\/p>\n \n\tThe outcome is still to be determined, but could possibly force the sale of Ticketmaster in the U.S.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cA ruling like this is monumental,\u201d says Lucas McCarthy, the founder and CEO of Showpass, one of Canada\u2019s biggest independent ticketing companies.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThis is a sign of the times that ticketing and live events are as important to people as core basket items like food and shelter,\u201d McCarthy says. \u201cIt\u2019s a good indicator that society holds live entertainment at the very forefront.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tTixr is another significant independent player in the ticketing industry. Though it was founded in the U.S., the company has a sizeable presence in Canada with operations headed by St\u00e9phane McGarry.<\/p>\n \n\tIn an interview alongside CEO and co-founder Robert Davari, McGarry says he is also optimistic the verdict could lead to similar scrutiny in Canada.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI do think there\u2019s an opportunity for Canada to follow suit,\u201d he tells\u00a0Billboard Canada. \u201cThe U.S. is a very tough market to prove monopolistic behaviour, and it has now been proven in court. So now if Canada\u2019s Competition Bureau were to have a look at this, which we\u2019re hoping they do, they have a blueprint for how to think about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tA spokesperson from the Bureau says they are monitoring the impact of the trial.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWe are aware of the recent verdict in the Live Nation case in the United States,\u201d the spokesperson says in a statement to Billboard Canada. \u201cWe continue to monitor the work of our international counterparts, while recognizing that each jurisdiction operates within its own legal framework.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tDespite how it is adopted in Canada, McCarthy predicts the verdict will allow room for more competition. More companies might be willing to build alternatives without being discouraged by inability to compete. And that could be passed down to the fans.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThis might create a new category of businesses that are more inspired and willing to participate,\u201d he says. \u201cI think we\u2019ll see significantly more innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tMcGarry is hopeful the Competition Bureau will conduct a new inquiry, and is open to the possibility of putting together a group of companies to lobby.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIf you know Canada, you know it might be a slow burn,\u201d he says. \u201cBut at the end, [if things change], it\u2019s the fan that\u2019s going to be much happier.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tRead more\u00a0here<\/a>. \u2014\u00a0Richard Trapunski<\/p>\n \t\tFACTOR Announces $2 Million in Funding for Live Music\t<\/p>\n \n\tFACTOR has taken a major step to support the Canadian music scene.<\/p>\n \n\tOn Tuesday (April 21), the Canadian music funding company announced its plans to invest over $2 million in funding for the live music industry, specifically into its Promoter Program and Festival Program.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tRelated\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tBoth programs reflect the company\u2019s ongoing mission to support local artists, festivals and events, fostering an environment where \u201ca diversity of Canadian music artists connect with audiences everywhere.\u201d The Promoter Program and Festival Program are intended to share investment risk with live music companies that have a \u201cproven track record\u201d of successfully presenting Canadian artists and centring diverse voices. The goal is for more shows to be put on across Canada and for more Canadians to be part of the teams presenting them.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIn this moment, supporting the Canadian businesses that help shape our identity is more important than ever,\u201d says Meg Symsyk, president & CEO of FACTOR. \u201cAt a time of rising costs and increased competition from foreign-owned companies, this support will enable our promoters and festivals to continue bringing Canadian artists to stages across the country and marketing those performances effectively, helping artists grow their audiences and careers.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe Promoter Program was initially launched in 2024 as a pilot project with Musicaction to recognize and support concert promotion staff amid the increasing importance of live music entertainment and touring. Its goal was to foster diverse voices and help bring more Canadian, Indigenous and marginalized artists onstage, as well as behind the scenes. With such initiatives, FACTOR aims to keep diverse Canadian voices and communities at the centre of the live music experience, helping ensure stages are shaped by homegrown talent and values.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThe CLMA is very pleased to see the return of the Promoter Program and new Festivals Program at FACTOR and Musicaction. Promoters and presenters are the purveyors of Canada\u2019s cultural sovereignty; this investment represents more opportunities for homegrown artists and support for Canadian live music businesses,\u201d said Maddy Oliver, interim executive director of the CLMA.<\/p>\n \n\tNews of the investment comes after the Canadian Music Fund was\u00a0renewed in Nov. 2025<\/a>, allowing for an allocation of $48 million to Musicaction and FACTOR for three years beginning in 2026.<\/p>\n \n\tRead more\u00a0here<\/a>. \u2014\u00a0Stefano Rebuli<\/p>\n![\"BEVERLY](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2265634715-e1775771170763.jpg\")
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<\/p>\n![\"Harry](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P115RY7B-e1769203074454.jpg\")
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![\"Billboard](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2HpFicp.png\")