NH joins antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation

New Hampshire is one of 30 states to join the U.S. Department of Justice in filing an antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation Entertainment. Officials say the company is crowding out competitors and raising ticket prices for fans. The New Hampshire attorney general’s office said Live Nation intimidated smaller promoters into selling tickets to fans and tried to close venues with long-term contracts. Officials say these actions monopolize the live entertainment industry. The attorney general’s office said it hopes the lawsuit will help provide fans with better choices at lower prices. Officials said they were holding Live Nation accountable for exercising power over performers, properties and independent promoters to discourage competition and threatening to pull company-controlled tours from venues if they signed a contract with a competing ticketing company. >> Download the free WMUR app to get updates wherever you are: Apple | Google Play <

CONCORD, N.H. —

New Hampshire is one of 30 states to join the U.S. Department of Justice in filing an antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation Entertainment.

Officials say the company is crowding out competitors and raising ticket prices for fans.

The New Hampshire attorney general’s office said Live Nation intimidated smaller promoters into selling tickets to fans and tried to lock down venues with long-term deals. Officials say these actions monopolize the live entertainment industry.

The attorney general’s office said it hopes the lawsuit will help provide fans with better choices at lower prices. Officials said they were holding Live Nation accountable for exercising power over performers, properties and independent promoters to discourage competition and threatening to pull company-controlled tours from venues if they signed a contract with a competing ticketing company.

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The attorney general’s office said Granite Staters pay some of the highest ticket markup rates in the country when it comes to face value of a ticket, affecting venues like SNHA Arena and the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion.

The lawsuit demands Live Nation be separated from Ticketmaster and refunds to customers who were overcharged.

“Even after Live Nation divests Ticketmaster, it is necessary to end other anticompetitive practices, which is what the lawsuit demands,” said Attorney General John Formella.

He said antitrust cases could take years to resolve and could end up in court.