Antitrust Lawsuit Against Ticketmaster Is A BFD

by Jim Small, Arizona Mirror
May 23, 2024

Arizona is one of 29 states and the District of Columbia that have signed on to a federal lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, alleging its practices have hurt consumers and venues by monopolizing the live entertainment industry.

“For years, Live Nation’s anti-competitive and monopolistic practices have resulted in Arizonans paying more to see their favorite artists than they otherwise would have,” Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a written statement. “The uncompetitive live entertainment market created by Live Nation has also left artists and venues without real any choice but to use Live Nation. This lack of competition hurts everyone, from fans to performers – and it’s time to hold Live Nation accountable for its violations of the law.”

The U.S. Department of Justice filed the lawsuit Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Long-standing complaints about Ticketmaster’s practices hit a peak in 2022 when its botched rollout of Taylor Swift tickets led to a hearing before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on the company’s role in the ticketing industry.

In a statement announcing the lawsuit, Mayes said that Live Nation and Ticketmaster have “illegally monopolized the live entertainment industry, increasing the prices Arizonans pay for live shows.”

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