DOJ Expands Antitrust Lawsuit Against Live Nation-Ticketmaster

The U.S. Department of Justice, joined by 40 states including Arizona, has expanded its antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation-Ticketmaster.Photo byBen WicksonUnsplash

On Monday, Aug. 19, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), along with the attorneys general of Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, and Vermont, joined a civil antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ticketmaster LLC.

The lawsuit, originally filed on May 23, 2024, by the DOJ and 30 other state and district attorneys general, accuses the company of monopolization and other unlawful conduct that stifles competition in the live entertainment industry.

With the addition of these 10 states, the group of co-plaintiffs now includes 40 states and the District of Columbia.

The DOJ and its expanded coalition filed an amended complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which includes additional allegations about Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s anticompetitive practices across various markets within the live entertainment industry, according to the DOJ.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, who was among the original plaintiffs, emphasized the impact of Live Nation’s practices on Arizona consumers.

"For years, Live Nation's anti-competitive and monopolistic practices have resulted in Arizonans paying more to see their favorite artists than they otherwise would have," Mayes said in a press release dated May 23, 2024.

"The uncompetitive live entertainment market created by Live Nation has also left artists and venues without any real choice but to use Live Nation. This lack of competition hurts everyone, from fans to performers – and it's time to hold Live Nation accountable for its violations of the law."

The DOJ and the coalition of states allege that Live Nation maintained its monopoly by locking venues into restrictive long-term agreements, threatening to withhold Live Nation-controlled tours if venues chose rival ticketing companies.

These practices, the lawsuit claims, have led to higher ticket prices and a degraded experience for consumers, including those in Arizona, according to the DOJ.