DOJ is set to sue Live Nation today over antitrust violations as company faces scrutiny after string of controversies including millions of fans being blocked from buying Taylor Swift Eras tour tickets

The lawsuit is expected to be filed in the Southern District of New York today

Live Nation Entertainment is set to be hit with an antitrust lawsuit today in relation to Ticketmaster's domination of concert ticket sales, it has emerged.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) and a group of states are expected to file a suit against the entertainment giant, potentially seeking a break up, in New York federal court as early as today.

The lawsuit is expected to allege that Live Nation's merger with Ticketmaster in 2010 has 'squeezed out competitors' and 'weakened customer choice', and in turn driven up the price of concert tickets, a source told CBS News.

Concertgoers and politicians alike have called for a re-examination of the Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger, especially after the botched sale of tickets for the US leg of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour.

The legal action also underscores the aggressive approach President Joe Biden's antitrust enforcers have adopted as they seek to create more competition in a wide range of industries, from Big Tech to healthcare to groceries.

The US Department of Justice and a group of states are set to sue Live Nation Entertainment today over antitrust violations, potentially seeking a break up

The US Department of Justice and a group of states are set to sue Live Nation Entertainment today over antitrust violations, potentially seeking a break up

Concert fans and politicians for years have called for a re-examination of the Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger in 2010, especially after the botched sale of tickets to the US leg of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. Pictured: Fans attend the Eras Tour at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in 2023

Concert fans and politicians for years have called for a re-examination of the Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger in 2010, especially after the botched sale of tickets to the US leg of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. Pictured: Fans attend the Eras Tour at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in 2023

Live Nation came under fire in 2022 after Ticketmaster mishandled the sale of tickets to Swift's 2023 tour.

Ticketmaster was overwhelmed, canceling some plans for sales and sending would-be buyers into online queues for as much as eight hours.

Some Swifties - the term used to describe the singer's fans - said they were repeatedly dropped by Ticketmaster as they waited to buy.

The service complained it was the target of bots and scalpers, but concert-goers also complained of high prices and poor service.

The DOJ then launched an investigation into the company, allegedly focusing on whether Live Nation has had a monopoly over the ticket industry.

Investigators contacted music venues and other industry members to learn more about the company's operational methods.

Last year, in a hearing called after the ticket sales fiasco, US senators slammed Live Nation's lack of transparency and inability to block bot purchases of tickets.

In the lawsuit to be filed in the Southern District of New York today, the DOJ's options range from requiring Live Nation to stop illegal behavior, a common request, to asking a court to break it up, which is rare.

Live Nation came under fire in 2022 after Ticketmaster mishandled the sale of tickets to Swift's 2023 tour. Ticketmaster was overwhelmed, canceling some plans for sales and sending would-be buyers into online queues for as much as eight hours

Live Nation came under fire in 2022 after Ticketmaster mishandled the sale of tickets to Swift's 2023 tour. Ticketmaster was overwhelmed, canceling some plans for sales and sending would-be buyers into online queues for as much as eight hours

After the Eras Tour ticket sales fiasco, Ticketmaster complained it was the target of bots and scalpers, but concert-goers also complained of high prices and poor service. Pictured is Taylor Swift performing in Stockholm, Sweden last weekend during the European leg of her tour

After the Eras Tour ticket sales fiasco, Ticketmaster complained it was the target of bots and scalpers, but concert-goers also complained of high prices and poor service. Pictured is Taylor Swift performing in Stockholm, Sweden last weekend during the European leg of her tour

Following the botched Eras Tour ticket sale in November 2022, Swift blasted Ticketmaster for the mayhem.

She claimed she had been 'assured' the company could handle the high demand 'multiple times' and said it was 'excruciating' to 'watch mistakes happen with no recourse'.

'It goes without saying that I'm extremely protective of my fans,' she wrote in a lengthy post on her Instagram stories. 'We've been doing this for decades together and over the years, I've brought so many elements of my career in house.'

She shared how she had opted to use Ticketmaster's Verified Fan system - which aims to deter by bots - because she thought it would 'improve the quality' of the purchase experience and get tickets into the hands of real fans.

'I'm not going to make excuses for anyone because we asked them, multiple times, if they could handle this kind of demand and we were assured they could,' Swift said at the time.

'It's truly amazing that 2.4 million people got tickets, but it really pisses me off that a lot of them feel like they went through several bear attacks to get them.'

Following the botched ticket sale in November 2022, Swift blasted Ticketmaster for the mayhem, claiming that she was 'assured' the company could handle the high demand 'multiple times' and calling it 'excruciating' to 'watch mistakes happen with no recourse'

Following the botched ticket sale in November 2022, Swift blasted Ticketmaster for the mayhem, claiming that she was 'assured' the company could handle the high demand 'multiple times' and calling it 'excruciating' to 'watch mistakes happen with no recourse'

Thursday's lawsuit comes after the Justice Department in 2010 approved Ticketmaster's controversial merger with Live Nation, with conditions intended to stop the combined company from harming competition.

In 2020, a court extended most of its oversight of the merger to 2025 because, the department said, Ticketmaster retaliated against stadiums and arenas that opted to use other ticketing companies.

Live Nation did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment, but has said in the past that it was confident its business practices were legal, and that the probe had been prompted by complaints from rivals, including re-sellers.

Live Nation's shares fell 7 per cent in after hours trade.

The Department of Justice has also been approached for comment.

OTHER NEWS

24 minutes ago

EU states won't be directly involved in $50 billion loan for Ukraine, Italian PM says

24 minutes ago

This explosive UK stock has hiked dividends by 14.6% a year for a decade. Time to buy?

24 minutes ago

Is Jayson Tatum a Top 10 Celtic of all time? | The Carton Show

24 minutes ago

Austin Hill takes the green flag at Iowa

24 minutes ago

Melo gives Brad Stevens credit for studying the history of the game: “There’s no team that ever won a championship who didn’t have a Batman and Robin”

24 minutes ago

Don’t pander to China, PM. Hong Kong Australians need you to speak up for them

25 minutes ago

Rory McIlroy bullish about US Open chances as late bogeys leave him three behind Bryson DeChambeau

25 minutes ago

Clive Myrie: ‘I was told about the kind of bullet that would be used to kill me’

25 minutes ago

SA, India shift to the Right may impact BRICS

28 minutes ago

Here’s how much extra tax Irish workers will have to pay to keep the state pension at 66

28 minutes ago

'She is a world-class person': Taoiseach Simon Harris condemns vile online abuse of relay star Rhasidat Adeleke

28 minutes ago

Leeds eyeing up Farke's new Cantwell who "offers that bit of stardust"

28 minutes ago

Council refuses permission for 'shiny plastic' Tipperary Crystal sign to remain on Henry Street

28 minutes ago

‘Coalitions are not a new phenomenon in KwaZulu-Natal’

28 minutes ago

Rory McIlroy faces final day battle to end major drought as Bryson DeChambeau leads US Open

30 minutes ago

How Prince William and Kate's Windsor home was once lived in by Princess Margaret's chaperone-turned-lover: Inside Adelaide Cottage's connection to royal scandal

30 minutes ago

The relentless march of Brand Beulah! Princess Beatrice owns TEN. (And there doesn't seem to be a royal woman who hasn't worn the British label...)

30 minutes ago

The Princess of Wales' most memorable looks at galas and film awards: From her sequined gown at No Time to Die premiere to THOSE black velvet gloves for last year's Baftas

30 minutes ago

Ready to ditch the tampons? Shoppers are 'obsessed' with these stylish leak-proof period pants - and they suit all flows (here's how to get £10 off)

30 minutes ago

The Bachelor's Jimmy Nicholson and Holly Kingston announce they're expecting their first child - and reveal the due date

30 minutes ago

Saasha was on the phone when she overheard a chilling threat made to her daughter Jessica Geddes on the other end of the line. Days later, her loved one was found dead

37 minutes ago

Tour de France strategies to break Pogacar come from this new strategist at Visma | Lease a Bike after Zeeman’s departure

37 minutes ago

Met Office Sunday Morning Weather Forecast 16/06/2024

37 minutes ago

Rodrigo Bentancur issues grovelling Son Heung-min apology after 'bad' South Korean comment

37 minutes ago

Al-Qaeda invites anti-West ‘brothers’ to Afghanistan

37 minutes ago

Irked with Thackeray, a sulking Nana Patole skips MVA meet

41 minutes ago

Tim Hardaway Jr. Makes NBA Finals History in Mavs' Game 4 Win Over Celtics

41 minutes ago

‘The new lads will thrive if they get a chance’: Southgate picks youth over experience for Euro squad

41 minutes ago

Team develops predictive tool for designing complex metal alloys that can withstand extreme environments

41 minutes ago

UK Tories in ‘disarray’ as Reform Party ‘storm ahead’ in polls

41 minutes ago

Scotland out of T20 World Cup after defeat to Australia - which sees England sneak through

46 minutes ago

Brittney Griner Dropped Four-Word Truth Bomb About Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark Rivalry Before WNBA Rematch

46 minutes ago

Feeney pilots 'rocket ship' to pole position in Darwin

46 minutes ago

CPI report shows consumer prices decreased slightly in May compared to last year

46 minutes ago

Inflation is still rising, but at a slower rate: Adam Johnson

48 minutes ago

Israeli military announces 'tactical pause' in attempt to increase flow of aid into hard-hit Gaza

48 minutes ago

All the businesses that surprisingly don't accept Amex cards - including Greggs and Sky

48 minutes ago

Jeremy Hunt: Tories must win the argument if I am to avoid ‘Portillo moment’

48 minutes ago

Universal Credit claimants can cut travel costs by 50% through this DWP scheme

48 minutes ago

It's becoming home: Football fan spends £12,000 and a year of his life converting old work van into luxury motorhome to travel across Germany following England at Euros 2024