The Justice Department is expected to file an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, as early as Thursday. The lawsuit is anticipated to challenge Live Nation's business practices and allege that the company has limited competition and weakened customer choice, leading to increased prices for consumers. This comes after a years-long investigation by the DOJ's anti-trust division into Live Nation Entertainment, which was created by the merger of US-based events promoter Live Nation and ticket sales and distribution company Ticketmaster in 2010.
Live Nation has faced criticism from fans, lawmakers, artists, and competitors for its dominance in the live entertainment industry. In November 2022, Ticketmaster angered Taylor Swift fans when its website crashed during a pre-sale period for her Eras Tour. The company has been accused of having too much influence over live entertainment events and limiting competition.
The lawsuit is expected to allege that Live Nation's position as a concert promoter, ticket seller, and venue owner has enabled it to box out rivals and maintain a monopoly in the industry. This has resulted in rising prices for consumers, limited innovation in the ticket industry, and less competition.
Sources familiar with the matter have confirmed that prosecutors will seek to force Live Nation to split off parts of its business or change how it operates if they are successful in their legal challenge. The DOJ declined to comment when approached by media outlets. Live Nation has also been contacted for comment but has not yet responded.
Live Nation Entertainment is a colossal player in the concert world and a force in the lives of musicians and fans alike. Its scale and reach far exceed those of any competitor, encompassing concert promotion, ticketing, artist management, and the operation of hundreds of venues and festivals around the world.
The Ticketmaster division alone sells 600 million tickets a year to events around the world. According to some estimates, it handles ticketing for 70%-80% of major concert venues in the United States. Lawmakers, fans, and competitors have accused the company of engaging in practices that harm rivals and drive up ticket prices and fees.
The Justice Department's legal challenge against Live Nation is significant as it could potentially reshape the multibillion-dollar live music industry. The outcome of this lawsuit will be closely watched by fans, artists, competitors, and regulators alike.