Washington, D.C. – The Department of Justice, along with 30 state and district attorneys general, has filed a federal lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary Ticketmaster, alleging monopolistic practices in the live event ticket industry in the United States. The civil antitrust suit was filed in the Southern District of New York.
This legal action comes after years of complaints from consumers, artists, independent venues, and even members of Congress about the skyrocketing prices of live event tickets. The merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation in 2010 has solidified Live Nation’s dominance in the market, giving it control over various aspects of the live event business, such as venues, concert promotions, music festivals, ticketing, sponsorship, advertising, and artist management.
If successful, this lawsuit could potentially reshape the live event landscape nationwide and impact the prices fans pay to attend concerts and performances. The attorneys general joining the suit come from states that host major live event venues, including New York, California, Colorado, Florida, and Texas.
Live Nation has responded to the lawsuit, stating that the DOJ’s legal action does not address the core issues fans care about, such as ticket prices, service fees, and accessibility to popular shows. The company argues that calling Ticketmaster a monopoly is a public relations move that overlooks the complexities of the live entertainment business.
The lawsuit alleges that Live Nation and Ticketmaster engaged in anticompetitive behaviors, including retaliating against competitors, locking out rival promotion companies and venues with exclusive contracts, restricting musicians’ access to venues, and acquiring smaller companies seen as threats. In an effort to increase transparency for consumers, the House of Representatives recently passed the TICKET Act, which would require ticket sellers to disclose all costs and fees upfront.
The DOJ is seeking “structural relief” in the lawsuit, asking the court to break up the Live Nation-Ticketmaster entity. This legal action is part of the Biden administration’s efforts to challenge major corporations accused of abusing their market dominance. However, it is likely to be a lengthy legal process before any potential changes are seen in the live event industry.