Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, in collaboration with the US Department of Justice (DOJ), has initiated an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., the owner of Ticketmaster. The lawsuit is supported by a bipartisan coalition comprising 30 states and the District of Columbia. The suit alleges that Live Nation has monopolized the live entertainment industry, significantly impacting Tennessee's ticketing and touring sectors.
"Since Ticketmaster’s Taylor Swift ticketing debacle in 2022, my AG colleagues and I have relentlessly sought justice for Americans wanting to attend concerts without having their pocketbooks pillaged by Live Nation’s monopoly," stated Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. "I will continue to fight on behalf of the artists, venues, and concertgoers in Tennessee, and I am glad to partner with the DOJ in the bipartisan effort to break up the Live Nation/Ticketmaster monopoly."
The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. It claims that Live Nation uses restrictive long-term agreements and threats to maintain control over venues. This includes forcing artists to choose them as promoters due to their extensive network of amphitheaters. The alleged result is higher fees for fans, less transparency, reduced consumer choices, and hindered innovation.
The court is being asked to prohibit these anticompetitive practices by Live Nation and order the divestiture of Ticketmaster to restore competition within the industry.
Joining this legal action alongside Attorney General Skrmetti are Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina Texas Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming and the District of Columbia.