Rhode Island joins antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment and Ticketmaster

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha today joined the U.S. Department of Justice and 29 other states in filing an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment, which also owns Ticketmaster. The lawsuit alleged that Live Nation used its monopoly position in the live entertainment industry to overcharge viewers and artists.

The lawsuit states that Live Nation has closed venues under long-term and exclusive contracts and threatens that venues will lose access to certain tour dates and artists if they sign with a competing ticket seller.

The lawsuit alleges that Live Nation used its market power to force artists to choose it as a promoter, which led to higher fees for fans and a lack of transparency for artists.

The lawsuit seeks to restore competition in the live entertainment industry, as well as provide financial compensation to the state of Rhode Island and fans who were overcharged by Live Nation.

“The creative arts are part of Rhode Island’s identity and one of the pillars of our economy,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Neronha. “One of my Office’s priorities is to ensure our local economy is equitable for our consumers, workers and small businesses, and no place is more important than our marketplace for live culture and music.”

Live Nation/Ticketmaster has a significant presence in Rhode Island. Live Nation subsidiary RI Waterfront Enterprises LLC is building an amphitheater at East Providence Bold Point Park, which was previously scheduled to open this year. Live Nation also handles ticket sales for Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence and Bally’s Event Center in Lincoln, as well as Gillette Stadium in Foxboro and Xfinity Center in Mansfield.

The case is being investigated by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The Rhode Island Department of Justice has a long history of taking action against unfair consumer practices in the ticketing industry. In 2019, Rhode Island’s attorney general took action under the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act to combat speculative Hamilton musical tickets.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Stephen Provazza and Special Assistant Attorneys General Alex Carnevale and Paul Meosky of the Office’s Consumer and Economic Justice Division.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted What’sUpNewp’s reporting in this story.