Pennsylvania Attorney General Sues Ticketmaster for Monopoly Over Live Entertainment
HARRISBURG, PA—Attorney General Michelle Henry, supported by a bipartisan coalition of 30 states and the U.S. Department of Justice, has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiary Ticketmaster, LLC. This legal action aims to dismantle what is described as an illegal monopoly in the live entertainment sector.
The lawsuit, which was filed in the United States District Court for Southern District of New York on Thursday, accuses Live Nation and Ticketmaster of maintaining a monopolistic grip on the live entertainment industry through anti-competitive practices. According to the complaint, Live Nation has abused its ownership and operation of numerous venues nationwide to secure and extend its market dominance.
In Pennsylvania alone, residents spent around $1.5 billion on live entertainment in 2022, showcasing the substantial impact of Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s business operations. The lawsuit details how Live Nation has entered into long-term exclusive agreements with venues and threatened to cut access to its network of tours and artists should these venues choose competing ticket services. Furthermore, Live Nation allegedly leverages its vast network of venues to coerce artists into using its promotional services over those of competitors, stifling innovation and reducing consumer choice.
The lawsuit seeks several remedies to restore competitive conditions in the market:
- The court-ordered divestiture of Ticketmaster from Live Nation.
- Financial restitution for consumers who have overpaid for tickets due to the lack of competition.
- A prohibition on Live Nation engaging in the outlined anti-competitive practices.
Attorney General Henry emphasized that Pennsylvanians deserve fair and competitive options when purchasing tickets to live events, underscoring the need for immediate action to break up this purported monopoly and provide relief to consumers.
“For decades, New Jersey has long enjoyed a vibrant music scene—from jazz in Newark to rock on the Jersey Shore—and both fans and artists have been hurt by the complicated business web Live Nation has built since it purchased Ticketmaster in 2010,” said New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin. “It shouldn’t cost thousands of dollars to take your family to see live music, to introduce your children to your favorite artists. Today, New Jersey is proud to stand with a large group of states on behalf of consumers everywhere who are tired of fee schemes that lead to exorbitant pricing and rob them of these experiences.”