DOJ files lawsuit to break up Live Nation and Ticketmaster: Tullahoma News and Guardian

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit to break up the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, two major players in the live entertainment industry. The lawsuit alleges that the merger has created a monopoly that harms competition and ultimately hurts consumers.

Live Nation, a live events promoter, and Ticketmaster, a ticketing company, merged in 2010 in a deal that was heavily scrutinized at the time. The DOJ approved the merger with certain conditions, including a consent decree that was supposed to prevent anti-competitive behavior. However, the DOJ now alleges that Live Nation has violated these conditions and has engaged in anti-competitive practices.

The lawsuit comes after a year-long investigation by the DOJ into Live Nation’s business practices. The DOJ found that Live Nation has used its dominant position in the live events industry to pressure venues and artists to use its ticketing services, effectively shutting out competition. This has led to higher ticket prices for consumers and limited choices for both venues and artists.

The lawsuit seeks to break up Live Nation and Ticketmaster, undoing the merger that created the dominant player in the live events industry. The DOJ hopes that by breaking up the companies, competition will be restored to the industry, leading to lower ticket prices and more choices for consumers.

Live Nation has denied the allegations and has vowed to fight the lawsuit in court. The outcome of the lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for the live events industry and could reshape the landscape of ticketing and live events for years to come. Stay tuned for updates as the case unfolds.