The Department of Justice (DOJ) and 30 state attorneys general have filed an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment, seeking to separate the company from its Ticketmaster subsidiary. The 124-page complaint accuses Live Nation of monopolizing the live concert industry through various anticompetitive practices.

Key Allegations:

• Monopolization and unlawful exclusive dealing violations under the Sherman Antitrust Act
• Retaliation against venues working with competitors
• Restricting artists' venue access
• Blocking venues from using multiple ticket providers
• Leveraging joint ownership to eliminate competition
• Forming anticompetitive agreements with Oak View Group

The lawsuit specifically calls for "the divestiture of, at minimum, Ticketmaster" from Live Nation, arguing that their combined control over artist performances, venues, and ticketing harms consumers through reduced competition and innovation.

Live Nation's Defense:

Live Nation strongly disputes these allegations, with company executives stating they "don't believe a break-up of Live Nation and Ticketmaster would be a legally permissible remedy." The company has launched a "Breaking Down the DOJ Lawsuit" page, arguing that:

• The monopoly allegations are "absurd"
• They're not responsible for fan frustration in live entertainment
• Their profit margins are lower than major tech companies
• The lawsuit reflects populist anti-business sentiment rather than proper antitrust law

Industry Response:

The Coalition for Ticket Fairness supports the DOJ's action, emphasizing the need for federal legislation to address the near-monopoly's impact on fans. They warn about Live Nation's recent strategy of pushing state-level legislation that claims to be "fan friendly" but may have opposite effects.

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