According to multiple sources, the Justice Department is preparing to file a federal antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, Ticketmaster’s parent company. According to an initial report by The Wall Street Journal on Monday, the Justice Department plans to bring an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation in the coming weeks.
This move comes despite growing concerns over Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s dominant position in the ticketing industry. Critics argue that their market dominance has led to increased ticket prices for live entertainment events.
Ticketmaster (Credits: Live Nation)
Ticketmaster faced serious backlash following technical issues during singer Taylor Swift’s online presale for her “Eras Tour” in 2022, which left thousands of fans unable to purchase tickets.
This incident brought national attention to Ticketmaster’s practices and raised questions about potential anticompetitive behavior by its parent company, Live Nation. Despite these concerns, the Justice Department approved the merger between Live Nation and Ticketmaster in 2010 following an antitrust investigation.
Live Nation has consistently defended its position, arguing that there is sufficient competition in the ticketing industry. When contacted by The Hill for comment on The Wall Street Journal’s report, Live Nation declined to provide a statement.
Department of Justice (Credits: Department of Justice)
Dan Wall, Live Nation’s head of Corporate Affairs, has refuted accusations that Ticketmaster and Live Nation are to blame for high ticket prices. In a blog post earlier this year, Wall stated that ticket prices are determined by artists and their teams, with additional service charges set by the venues themselves.
He emphasized that most service charges go to the venues, not Ticketmaster. Wall also pointed out that factors such as supply and demand for live entertainment events can influence ticket prices.
Bloomberg also reported on Monday that the Justice Department is preparing to file an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, citing three individuals familiar with the matter.
