The Department of Justice ( DOJ ) on Thursday action hot Nation Entertainment andasked a court to unwrap up the companyover claims it has maintained an illegal monopoly over the lively entertainment industry .
The Justice Department is get together by 29 states and the District of Columbia in the suit , which was filed in the Southern District of New York . The governance accuses hot Nation of bank on improper and uncompetitive behaviour to maintain its control over the lively amusement industry , which hurt venues , artist , consumer , and promoter .
The DOJ said Live Nation check roughly 80 % of primary ticketing at major concert venues and 60 % of concert promotions . In its ailment , the government debate that Live Nation has acquired several diminished companies it had identified as “ threat , ” threatened venue with losing access to some tours if they did n’t work with Ticketmaster , and blocked artists who did n’t shape with the company from its venue .
Live Nation Entertainment’s control over the U.S. concert ticket market got a fresh wave of scrutiny after its botched handling of demand for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.Photo: Drew Angerer (Getty Images)
Dan Wall , who leads hot Nation ’s incarnate and regulative affairs department , said in a statement that the suit was the result of “ intense political insistency ” and buttonhole from rival and slate agent . The company also said that break away it up would not result in lower tag price or fee .
Live Nation stock drop more than 5 % in trading on Thursday morning .
The Beverly Hills , California - based company is the area ’s prominent concert promoter .
In 2010 , a merger between Live Nation and Ticketmaster was approved by the Justice Department under the condition that the newfangled entity would n’t revenge against venues that declined to work with Ticketmaster . That raft give springy Nation Entertainmentcontrol of more than 70 % of the ticketing and live outcome market .
In 2019 , Live Nationsettled a DOJ lawsuitthat accused it of go against those term on five disjoined occasion , include threats that the company would keep back tours from concert locale that did not regenerate deals with Ticketmaster . That consent fiat was laterextendedto 2025 and an main reminder was appointed to inquire further allegations .
In November 2022 , the DOJ opened a new investigation into the company to investigate how it beat out rival ticketing service , concert booster , and other players in the springy music industry , Politico reported at the time . The inquiry came as Live Nation endured a shelling of unfavorable judgment when it allegedlymishandled just the ticket salesfor Taylor Swift’srecord - setting — andeconomy boost — Eras Tour .
When ticket went on cut-rate sale that month , the consuming requirement crash Ticketmaster ’s website , leading toimmense backlash from Swifties , public apologies in congressional hearing , and a new undulation of examination . Several U.S. senators have advocated for the companionship to be break out up , as haverivals .
The “ behavioral remedy was the only thing they put in place , ” Cris Miller , an executive at rival StubHub , say during the 2024 Anti - Monopoly Summit this week , referring to the DOJ ’s favourable reception of the 2010 unification between Live Nation and Ticketmaster . “ That ’s failed , miserably . The truth is structural remedies are the only way to solve for it . ”
Wall in March fired back against assumptions about his companionship ’ dominance and dominance over heave just the ticket Mary Leontyne Price .
“ affirmation to the effect that Live land and Ticketmaster ‘ keep ticket price high ’ are just monotonous wrong , ” Wallwrote in a protracted essay . “ Anyone with a canonic understanding of the industry fuck this . Those who perpetuate this falsehood are cynical at best . They do a disservice to consumers and to rational political discourse . ”
Update : This floor has been updated to reverberate the Department of Justice ’s filing and a financial statement from unrecorded Nation Entertainment .
This article originally appeared onQuartz .
MonopoliesTaylor Swiftticketmaster
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