Baltimore, MD News (5/25/2024) – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced on Thursday that he is joining the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and a bipartisan coalition of 30 states in filing an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., the parent company of Ticketmaster. The lawsuit alleges that Live Nation has illegally monopolized the live entertainment industry, affecting ticket sales, artist management, promotions, and venue options.
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“When the world’s largest live entertainment company illegally dominates ticket sales, artist management and promotion, and venue choices, fans are the ones who are hurt the most,” said Attorney General Brown. “This unlawful conduct drives up prices, leaves fans with poor customer service, and limits opportunities for people’s access to live entertainment.”
Live Nation holds exclusive ticketing rights for nearly all large concert venues in the Maryland, DC, and Virginia region. These venues include the Fillmore in Silver Spring, Pier 6 in Baltimore, Maryland Stadium in College Park, and Maryland Hall in Annapolis. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claims that Live Nation has maintained its monopoly through exclusive agreements and threats to venues and artists.
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The DOJ and coalition of states assert that Live Nation:
- Maintains its monopoly in ticketing markets through exclusive agreements and threats that venues will lose access to Live Nation-controlled tours and artists if they sign with a rival ticketer.
- Uses its monopoly power to force artists, who want to perform in large amphitheaters, to select Live Nation as their concert promoter.
- Harms fans by charging higher fees and limiting consumer choices.
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The lawsuit seeks to restore competition in the live entertainment industry by:
- Prohibiting Live Nation from engaging in unlawful anticompetitive practices.
- Ordering Live Nation to divest Ticketmaster, meaning it will no longer own Ticketmaster.
- Securing redress for all victims, including Marylanders, harmed by Live Nation’s anticompetitive scheme.
Joining Attorney General Brown in the DOJ’s complaint are the attorneys general of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
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Maryland OAG’s Antitrust Enforcement Actions
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has a history of addressing antitrust violations affecting Marylanders. In the past year, OAG has opposed anticompetitive mergers, including between Kroger and Albertsons, and JetBlue and Spirit Airlines. It has partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reduce anticompetitive barriers across food and agriculture supply chains, litigated against Amazon to stop its anticompetitive conduct in online marketplaces, and settled antitrust lawsuits against Google over its Play Store misconduct and against Indivior Inc. for thwarting competition in the market for Suboxone, a treatment for opioid addiction.
Background on Live Nation
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., including its subsidiary Ticketmaster, is recognized as the largest live entertainment company globally. It manages over 400 musical artists, controls approximately 60% of concert promotions at major concert venues across the country, and owns or controls more than 265 concert venues in North America, including more than 60 of the top 100 amphitheaters in the United States.
Per the lawsuit, the company’s extensive control over the live music ecosystem has allowed it to freeze innovation and manipulate the industry to its benefit, often to the detriment of fans, artists, and the competitive market. The lawsuit aims to dismantle this monopoly and create a more competitive environment that benefits consumers and artists alike.
Story by multiple RFHC contributors.
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