The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, on Thursday, alleging that the company willingly misleads consumers about ticket prices and cooperates with scalpers to markup resale prices — all at the expense of artists and music fans. Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia are all plaintiffs in the FTC's complaints.

"American live entertainment is the best in the world and should be accessible to all of us," said FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson in a statement. "It should not cost an arm and a leg to take the family to a baseball game or attend your favorite musician's show."

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, accuses Ticketmaster and Live Nation — the largest ticketing and live entertainment company in the country — of participating in three main illegal practices.

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