Attorney General Tim Griffin today announced that he has joined the U.S. Department of Justice and a bipartisan coalition of 29 other attorneys general in filing an antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., over its illegal monopoly of the live entertainment industry:
“Arkansans—whether they are concert goers, artists, or venue operators—are at the mercy of Live Nation and Ticketmaster when it comes to live entertainment. Live Nation’s monopoly dictates which artists play where, prevents venues from using other ticketing companies at the risk of losing access to artists, and milks fans with large service fees in a so-called marketplace where there is a paucity of choice. Live Nation is also in violation of Arkansas’s prohibition on monopolies and our state’s Unfair Practices Act.”
In the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the DOJ and coalition states allege that Live Nation has:
- Harmed fans through higher fees and limited the amount of information fans have regarding the ultimate cost to see a show. Fans’ ticketing experience—from buying a ticket to showtime—is also worse than it would be if the industry were competitive.
- Maintained its monopoly in ticketing markets by locking up venues through restrictive long-term, exclusive agreements and threats that venues will lose access to Live Nation-controlled tours and artists if they sign with a rival ticketer.
- Leveraged its extensive network of venues to force artists to select Live Nation as a promoter instead of its rivals, maintaining its promotions monopoly.
The DOJ and coalition states are asking the court to prohibit Live Nation from engaging in its anticompetitive practices; order Live Nation to divest its ownership of Ticketmaster; and order Live Nation to pay civil penalties for its violations of law.
Joining Griffin in the suit are the attorneys general from: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
To read the complaint, click here.
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