The Department of Justice (DOJ) is gearing up to call for the breakup of concert and ticketing giant Live Nation in an antitrust lawsuit expected to be filed in New York on Thursday morning, a source tells Rolling Stone.
This DOJ suit is one of the most anticipated legal actions in the live music industry since the regulators’ investigation began in 2022. Live Nation and Ticketmaster, which merged in 2010, have faced intense scrutiny from fans, competing companies, and regulators. Critics argue that the merger has stifled competition in the live music space. Bloomberg first reported the news.
The company faced renewed public frustration following the chaotic ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, where thousands of fans experienced technical issues and long waits. The DOJ’s investigation, however, began before this incident.
Several lawmakers, including Amy Klobuchar, John Cornyn, Richard Blumenthal, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called for stricter regulations on Live Nation. Klobuchar highlighted issues like the volume of venues Ticketmaster serves, exclusive deals, and rising fees. “They book the concert, sell the tickets, and own the venue, which leaves little room for competition,” Klobuchar told Rolling Stone last year.
Regarding the upcoming suit, Klobuchar stated, “If the reports are correct, the Justice Department is doing the right thing. This is about ensuring fair treatment for fans everywhere and reinvigorating competition in ticketing markets.”
Earlier this year, Live Nation and its CFO Joe Berchtold faced tough questions during a Senate judiciary hearing. Senator Blumenthal remarked, “Live Nation/Ticketmaster is the 800-pound gorilla here. You have clear dominance and monopolistic control. This whole concert ticket system is a mess.”
The DOJ’s decision to allow the Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger over a decade ago was controversial, merging the world’s largest concert promoter with the leading ticketing company. Critics feared this combination would hurt independent promoters and give Live Nation too much power.
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