A bipartisan coalition is suing Live Nation and Ticketmaster for antitrust violations

Attorney General Michelle Henry is leading a 30-state bipartisan coalition in the antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. and Ticketmaster, LLC, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that Live Nation and Ticketmaster have established an illegal monopoly in the live entertainment industry. The complaint accuses Live Nation of engaging in anti-competitive practices to maintain its monopoly, including enforcing long-term exclusive contracts with venues and using a network of venues to coerce artists to use Live Nation as a promoter.

The coalition says Live Nation’s tactics have resulted in higher ticket fees, reduced transparency, limited consumer choice and stifled innovation, negatively impacting fans and the market. In 2022, Pennsylvanians alone spent approximately $1.5 billion on live entertainment. The lawsuit seeks to end the monopoly by ordering Live Nation to divest Ticketmaster and prohibit anti-competitive practices, with the goal of restoring competition and offering financial compensation to consumers who overpaid for tickets. The case is supported by a group of deputy attorneys general from Pennsylvania, joined by, among others, the states of Arizona, California, Texas and New York.