The Department of Justice (DOJ) is preparing to file an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster this week, potentially forcing a breakup of the entertainment giant, according to multiple sources including ABC News and CNN.

The DOJ's two-year investigation centers on whether Live Nation has created a monopoly in live event ticketing through exclusive venue contracts. Venues have reported pressure tactics and booking discrimination when refusing to use Ticketmaster services.

The company's dominance became a major public concern during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour presale in 2022, when system crashes left millions of fans unable to purchase tickets. Live Nation and Ticketmaster control approximately 70% of the ticketing and live events market.

Previous regulatory actions include:

• 2019: Fines for violating DOJ consent decree terms from the 2010 merger
• 2023: Congressional hearing where Live Nation CFO Joe Berchtold faced questioning about market dominance
• June 2023: Meeting with President Biden leading to "all-in" pricing disclosure requirements

A successful antitrust case could result in splitting Live Nation and Ticketmaster into separate companies, potentially transforming the live entertainment ticketing landscape.

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