The coalition challenging Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s alleged monopolistic practices grew stronger as ten more states joined the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) civil antitrust lawsuit.
Attorneys General from Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, and Vermont have added their voices to the fight, bringing the total number of co-plaintiffs to 40 states and the District of Columbia.
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The amended complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York, alleges violations of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, accusing Live Nation-Ticketmaster of engaging in anticompetitive conduct to maintain its dominance in the live entertainment industry. The updated filing also includes additional details about the company’s alleged practices, further strengthening the case against it.
The lawsuit aims to address concerns that Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s control over significant portions of the ticketing and live event promotion markets stifles competition, leading to higher prices, limited choices, and reduced innovation for consumers.
This expansion of the plaintiff group signals a growing consensus among state officials about the need to challenge Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s alleged anticompetitive behavior.
“We allege that 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,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “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-Ticketmaster.”
In a statement to the Tampa Free Press, a Live Nation Entertainment spokesperson said, “There is nothing new in the Amended Complaint – the lawsuit still won’t solve the issues fans care about relating to ticket prices, service fees, and access to in-demand shows. We look forward to sharing more facts as the case progresses.”
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