Attorney General and U.S. Dept of Justice filing antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster

Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today he is partnering with the U.S. Department of Justice and a bipartisan group of 29 other attorneys general in an antitrust lawsuit aimed at breaking up Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s monopoly over the live entertainment industry.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, asserts the companies used their dominance over concert tickets to undermine competition for the ticketing of live events, driving up ticket costs for individuals. 

The lawsuit asserts Live Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, violated the Sherman Antitrust Act by eliminating rivals and increasing barriers for other companies, creating an unlawful monopoly over the live entertainment industry. Live Nation merged with Ticketmaster in 2010.

Ticketmaster’s own internal documents claim it accounts for 70% to 80% of primary concert tickets in North America.

Live Nation owns, operates or has significant influence over more than 250 venues in North America, including more than 60 of the top 100 amphitheaters in the United States.

It also has controlling interests in popular festivals around the country like Austin City Limits, Bonaroo and Lollapalooza. 

In Washington, Live Nation manages the Gorge Amphitheater in George, RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater in Ridgefield and White River Amphitheater in Auburn. Live Nation generated more than $22 billion in revenue in 2023.

Because these companies have developed such a stranglehold over the live entertainment industry, the justice department and states seek to unwind their merger and separate the companies.

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