"The DOJ and a bipartisan group of state attorneys general say the combined company, Live Nation Entertainment, squelches competition through its partnerships with some 400 top-tier artists and nearly 300 arenas and concert venues across North America. Artists who wish to perform at Live Nation venues are forced to use the entertainment powerhouses' promoters and Ticketmaster, which controls 70% of the ticket-selling market, the DOJ alleges."
"Live Nation also enables and profits from large-scale scalping, the government alleges, saying the practice dramatically increases ticket prices. Live Nation counters that it aggressively fights scalpers and their sophisticated ticket-buying bots, and that artists remain free to choose venues, set prices, and decide how tickets are sold."
"Two years after the Biden administration's Department of Justice sued to split Ticketmaster from parent company Live Nation, Trump's DOJ is taking the massive antitrust case to trial. Jury selection is set for Monday in a federal courtroom in Manhattan, with opening statements expected Tuesday."
The Department of Justice and 39 states plus Washington D.C. are pursuing an antitrust case against Live Nation Entertainment, seeking to separate Ticketmaster from its parent company. The lawsuit challenges the 2010 merger between Live Nation, the world's largest arena owner and concert promoter, and Ticketmaster, which controls 70% of the ticket-selling market. Prosecutors allege the combined entity operates an illegal monopoly by forcing artists performing at Live Nation venues to use the company's promoters and Ticketmaster for ticket sales. The government also claims Live Nation enables large-scale ticket scalping, artificially inflating prices. Live Nation denies these allegations, asserting it combats scalpers and that artists retain freedom in venue selection and pricing decisions. Jury selection begins Monday in Manhattan federal court.
#antitrust-litigation #live-nation-monopoly #ticketmaster-ticket-market #concert-industry-regulation #doj-enforcement-action
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