Live Nation and Ticketmaster face trial after DOJ advances antitrust case

A federal judge has narrowed the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment, dismissing some allegations while allowing key claims to move forward to trial next month. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian on Wednesday ruled that claims related to concert promotion services and the ticketing market’s effect on fans will be dismissed. The trial, scheduled to begin March 2, will proceed with allegations concerning the market for large amphitheaters, Ticketmaster’s central role in the ticket market for venues, and other state-level claims.

The Justice Department and 39 states sued Live Nation in 2024, alleging the company held a monopoly in six markets and engaged in anticompetitive practices within the live event industry. Live Nation owns Ticketmaster, operates venues, and provides promotion services.

Live Nation welcomed the ruling’s dismissal of certain claims. “We are grateful that the district court dismissed all claims in the concert promotions and concert booking markets,” the company said in a statement. “With those claims gone, we see no possible basis for breaking up Live Nation and Ticketmaster. We look forward to addressing the remaining claims at trial.”

In his ruling, Subramanian wrote that based on “Live Nation’s alleged market power and ‘unremitting’ policy, a reasonable jury could certainly find that artists were coerced into going with Live Nation as their promoter to get into its amphitheaters.”

The DOJ’s original lawsuit sought to break up the company that merged with Ticketmaster in 2010. The suit alleged that Live Nation-Ticketmaster created a “self-reinforcing ‘flywheel'” to connect its businesses, punished venues for using other ticketers, hindered performers’ access to venues, and acquired competitors.

Featured image credit: PRNewswire/Live Nation

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Ashley Palya

I’ve been writing, covering events, and doing interviews with Exron for nearly four years, but have been an EDM-lover for over a decade. The music community and industry has a special place in my heart and I love exploring the depths. EDC Las Vegas is my favorite festival and this year will be my sixth time attending. Some other recent festivals I’ve been are Ultra, Elements, Lost Lands, Electric Forest, and Arc. I’ve been getting more into experimental bass, but techno and house will always have my heart. <3

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