Live Nation and Ticket Master In Legal Trouble With US DOJ

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to launch legal proceedings to dissolve the Live Nation and Ticketmaster enterprise. The pending antitrust lawsuit set to be filed in New York signals the end of a prolonged investigation filed by federal regulators dating back to 2022.

Bloomberg reports broke the news and confirmed that “the US Justice Department and a group of states will sue Live Nation Entertainment Inc. for antitrust violations related to Ticketmaster’s unrivaled control of concert ticket sales.”

Rolling Stone echoed these claims, highlighting the anticipation surrounding the potential legal action in the live music industry.

The Stakes Behind Allegations Against Live Nation and Ticketmaster

Live Nation and Ticketmaster faced intense scrutiny and criticism from various stakeholders, including fans, regulators, and competitors when they joined forces back in 2010.

Skeptics have persistently argued that the combined influence of the two companies suppresses the competition. This made other concert promoters and ticketing companies thrive. Moreover, allegations over Live Nation leveraging its market position to artificially inflate concert ticket prices added fuel to the fire.

Live Nation continues to push back against these antitrust allegations stating that factors like artist fees and venue arrangements affect ticket prices. Dan Wall, Live Nation’s Executive Vice President for Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, adamantly denied these claims in an essay saying:

“Statements to the effect that Live Nation and Ticketmaster ‘keep ticket prices high’ are just flat wrong. Anyone with a basic understanding of the industry knows this. Those who perpetuate this falsehood are cynical at best. They do a disservice to consumers and to rational political discourse.”

The looming legal showdown between the DOJ and Live Nation shows a high stake involved in the music industry. As we wait for this lawsuit to unfold, outcomes will likely have far-reaching implications in the industry.