Attorney General Charity Clark announced Monday, Aug. 19, that she has joined an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation-Ticketmaster. The lawsuit, initially filed by the U.S. Dept. of Justice (DOJ) and state partners, alleges that Live Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, formed an illegal monopoly and engaged in anti-competitive conduct to maintain that monopoly. Attorney General Clark’s office has been investigating Live Nation-Ticketmaster since May.
“Competition is vital to a healthy economy, including in the live music industry,” said Attorney General Clark. “Live Nation-Ticketmaster has engaged in anticompetitive conduct that has ensured its dominance in the live concert and ticketing markets — at the expense of Vermont consumers, workers, and businesses. Their conduct makes live music less accessible for fans, artists, and the industry that supports them, and that is a shame.”
The amended complaint alleges that Live Nation-Ticketmaster unlawfully exercises its monopoly power in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act. As a result of its conduct, music fans in the U.S. are deprived of ticketing innovation and forced to use outdated technology while paying more for tickets than fans in other countries. At the same time, Live Nation-Ticketmaster exercises its power over performers, venues, and independent promoters in ways that harm competition. Live Nation-Ticketmaster also imposes barriers to competition that limit the entry and expansion of its rivals.
The lawsuit, initially filed in May in the U.S. District Court for Southern District of New York by the DOJ and its state partners, alleges:
Live Nation has maintained its anti-competitive monopoly in ticketing markets by locking up venues through restrictive long-term, exclusive agreements and by threatening that venues will lose access to Live Nation-controlled tours and artists if they sign with a rival ticketing company.
Live Nation leverages its extensive network of amphitheaters and other venues to force artists to select Live Nation as a promoter instead of its rivals, maintaining its promotions monopoly.
Live Nation’s conduct has harmed fans through higher fees, lack of transparency, fewer consumer choices, and stifled innovation.
The lawsuit asks the court to restore competition in the live entertainment industry by:
Ordering Live Nation to divest Ticketmaster.
Awarding financial compensation to consumers who paid more than they should have for tickets in a competitive market.
Prohibiting Live Nation from engaging in its anticompetitive practices.
