DOJ announces antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster parent company Live Nation over alleged monopoly

The federal government was joined in its legal challenge by attorneys general for 29 states and Washington, D.C.

DOJ announces antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster parent company Live Nation over alleged monopoly

The Justice Department announced an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment, accusing the world's largest concert promoter and ticketing company of monopolistic practices and calling to break up its merger with Ticketmaster.

The federal government was joined in its legal challenge by attorneys general for 29 states and Washington, D.C.

“Live Nation relies on unlawful, anticompetitive conduct to exercise its monopolistic control over the live events industry in the United States at the cost of fans, artists, smaller promoters, and venue operators,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a news release. “The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services. It is time to break up Live Nation.”

The lawsuit, filed in the Souther District of New York, alleges that Live Nation has undermined competition for ticketing live events. It comes 14 years after the DOJ allowed Live Nation to acquire Ticketmaster, creating a live-event conglomerate of unrivaled power and sparking competition concerns among consumer advocates.

At the time, the agency approved the merger through a 10-year consent decree — which imposed conditions on the merger, including that Live Nation was prohibited from threatening to withhold concerts from a venue that choose a different ticketing firm to manage the sales. In 2019, the consent decree was extended to 2025 after the Justice Department found Live Nation repeatedly violated conditions of the merger.

The move comes as the Biden administration has vowed to promote competition by cracking down on corporate monopolies and their anti-competitive practices.

Ticketmaster came under intense scrutiny in 2022 after its website crashed during a pre-sale event for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. The company said its site was overwhelmed by both fans and attacks from bots, which were posing as consumers in order to scoop up tickets and sell them on secondary sites. Thousands of people lost tickets after waiting for hours in an online queue.

The debacle led to a congressional hearing, with the Senate Judiciary subcommittee that oversees competition policy and antitrust issues scrutinizing the outsized role of Ticketmaster in the ticketing industry at a cost to consumers.

Senators also took aim at Ticketmaster's fees. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, recalled piling into a friend’s car in high school to go to concerts by Led Zeppelin, The Cars and Aerosmith. These days, she said, ticket prices have gotten so high that shows are too expensive for many fans. Klobuchar said ticket fees now average 27% of the ticket cost and can climb as high as 75%.

Live Nation has previously defended its fees and ticket pricing, saying "promoters don't set prices, artists do."

But competitors, like Seat Geek CEO Jack Groetzinger, said even if Live Nation doesn't own a venue, it prevents competition by signing multi-year contracts with arenas and concert halls to provide ticketing services. If those venues don't agree to use Ticketmaster, Live Nation may withhold acts. That makes it tough for competitors to disrupt the market.

Ticketmaster is the world’s largest ticket seller, processing 500 million tickets each year in more than 30 countries. Around 70% of tickets for major concert venues in the U.S. are sold through Ticketmaster, according to data in a federal lawsuit filed by consumers last year.

"Ticketmaster ought to look in the mirror and say, 'I'm the problem, it's me,'" Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Tuesday during the Senate Judiciary Committee's Ticketmaster ticket debacle hearing.

OTHER NEWS

24 minutes ago

Chris Billam-Smith says experience was the key in avenging Richard Riakporhe loss

24 minutes ago

Baby-wearing dads celebrate Fathers’ Day with record-breaking walk in S’pore

24 minutes ago

‘In South Africa, you hear of disappearance all the time’: one photographer’s search for his sister’s missing years

24 minutes ago

HMRC has failed to fine a single ‘enabler’ of offshore tax fraud in five years

24 minutes ago

Cameron Smith's shirt at the 2024 U.S. Open is a periodic table of alcohol — and you can own it, too

24 minutes ago

From Oregon Trail to Wurdweb, five fun games to play on Apple Arcade this summer

24 minutes ago

2 dead, 6 injured in shooting at Texas Juneteenth celebration: officials

27 minutes ago

Inmates take staff hostage at a detention center in southern Russia

31 minutes ago

Seibold lauds gutsy Manly after 30-14 win over Dragons

31 minutes ago

Saudi FM: Ukraine peace process will need Russia’s participation

31 minutes ago

How to pick a watermelon: Sweet and ripe every time

31 minutes ago

Ratcliffe must axe Man Utd ace who earns 4x more than Branthwaite

31 minutes ago

Rachel Stevens admits she was left in 'turmoil' after falling for Dancing on Ice partner Brendyn Hatfield ahead of 'messy and scary' split from husband Alex Bourne

31 minutes ago

Brave Kate is a beacon of light in new behind-the-scenes Trooping the Colour video - as Waleses reveal they are 'in awe' at 'incredible' ceremony that included Princess' Buckingham Palace balcony appearance

37 minutes ago

The Rev James Lawson, Martin Luther King’s right-hand man in the Civil Rights struggle – obituary

37 minutes ago

Here’s how I’d target £1,580 in passive income next year using a £20k Stocks and Shares ISA

37 minutes ago

Artem Dovbyk’s path from Ukraine’s third tier to La Liga’s finest finisher

37 minutes ago

Christian Eriksen to complete football's greatest comeback - "I'd died for five minutes"

37 minutes ago

Slovenia vs Denmark: Euro 2024 prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h, odds today

37 minutes ago

Poland vs Netherlands: Euro 2024 prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h, odds today

37 minutes ago

Larsson: Barca need signings to win trophies next season

37 minutes ago

I have a terminal brain tumour and doctors have given me a year to live - I want this Father's Day to be the best ever in case it's my last one

37 minutes ago

Israel announces daily 'tactical pause' in fighting in southern Gaza to let humanitarian aid flow into the war-torn region

37 minutes ago

Tom Parker widow Kelsey says their young children, Aurelia, 4, and Bodhi, 3, still make Father's Day cards for the singer two years on from his death

37 minutes ago

We're parenting experts and here are 9 tips to help you survive Father's Day as a single mother

37 minutes ago

Inside King Charles's changing relationship with Prince William and Prince Harry amid family turmoil in recent years - as he celebrates Father's Day without his youngest son

39 minutes ago

Jayden Daniels has signed his rookie contract with the Washington Commanders

41 minutes ago

Taylor Swift Chokes Up On Stage During Final Liverpool Concert In Eras Tour

43 minutes ago

Michael Clarke appears to confirm romance with new real estate guru Arabella Sherborne as they enjoy romantic holiday on the Gold Coast

43 minutes ago

Driver shares frustration with photo of 'gas guzzler' parked in electric charging spot: 'Why is it that pickup truck drivers have such hate for EVs?'

43 minutes ago

The Wanted singer Tom Parker's kids make him Father's Day cards two years after death

43 minutes ago

New tool for tactical votes in Tory-held seats aims to change voting system

43 minutes ago

Whatever way you look at it, the Dublin Mayo rivalry covered up for years of poor football

45 minutes ago

Billy Crystal poked fun at Robert De Niro’s acting on set of ‘Analyze This’

45 minutes ago

Céline Dion believes late husband’s spirit is still in her life

45 minutes ago

Keith Richards got so wasted on Rolling Stones tour he was flown to another country while still in bed

46 minutes ago

Clive Myrie reveals shocking extent of racial abuse faced as BBC newsreader

46 minutes ago

France seek fast start to help end 24 years of waiting for European Championship glory

47 minutes ago

Richards Bay have Premiership fate in own hands with AmaTuks draw

47 minutes ago

In Sudan, Russia's Africa strategy advances another step