Justice Department and Live Nation reach settlement over illegal monopoly case
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department said Monday it has temporarily resolved its problem. Antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation Entertainment ultimately signed a deal to lower ticket prices for consumers and end the illegal monopoly on live events in America.
However, some states have signaled that they will not join the agreement and will continue the ongoing trial.
After the Justice Department announced a settlement ending its involvement in the trial in Manhattan federal court, Judge Arun Subramanian called it “completely unacceptable” that no one told him about it until late Sunday, after a term sheet outlining the deal was signed Thursday.
A senior Justice Department official spoke enthusiastically about the impending deal Monday on the condition of anonymity during a phone call with reporters under conditions set by the department for the release of some information about the proposed deal.
Live Nation will pay a $280 million fine and give up at least 13 amphitheatres across the country and initiate ticketing processes so rivals can get a share of ticket sales, the official said, adding that at least 10 states are expected to join the deal.
The official called it “a win-win for everyone,” providing immediate relief to consumers and protecting venues from retaliation when they choose Live Nation’s competitors to manage tickets or promote events.
Live Nation Entertainment said in a statement that it was pleased with an agreement that would allow other promoters to decide how best to distribute up to 50% of tickets and up to 15% of ticketing service fees.
“We have never relied on exclusivity to run our ticketing business; it’s simply a result of having the best products, services and people in the industry,” said Michael Rapino, president and CEO of Live Nation.
Live Nation said the deal would include an eight-year extension of the company’s consent decree with the Justice Department. He described the $280 million, which a Justice Department official labeled a “fine,” as a “settlement fund to cover states’ claims for damages.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement that the settlement “failed to address the monopoly at the heart of this case.”
“My attorney general colleagues and I have a strong case against Live Nation, and we will continue our case,” James said.
Other states that have rejected the agreement include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the District of Columbia, it said in a statement.
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson called the deal a “terrible deal” that was kept secret from the states until the last minute.
“This case is about Live Nation and Ticketmaster harming consumers, trapping artists, and jacking up ticket prices. We’ll see them back in court soon,” he said.
Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown said in May 2024 that the bipartisan group of state attorneys general who joined the Justice Department’s case would proceed because “the case against Live Nation is strong and the state coalition is committed to holding the company accountable for its illegal conduct, protecting consumers, and restoring competition in this market.”
Stephen Parker, executive director of the National Independent Venue Association, said in a statement that the $280 million penalty represents about four days’ worth of Live Nation’s 2025 revenue.
“They could potentially be back by this Friday,” said Parker, speaking on behalf of thousands of independent venues, festivals and promoters across the country.
“The reported agreement does not appear to contain any specific and explicit protections for fans, artists, or independent venues and festivals,” he said, calling the agreement a “failure of the justice system.”
Adam Gitlin, an attorney for the District of Columbia, told Subramanian that many states, including Florida, Louisiana and Texas, have not decided what to do and that those states have expressed “serious concerns” about the agreement.
In court, Subramanian told jurors about the settlement and said the trial would continue next week as some states pressed claims first made under the President. Joe Biden Management in 2024.
States now own Live Nation suppresses competition and raises prices for fans Through threats, retaliation and other tactics to “stifle competition” by controlling nearly every aspect of the industry, from concert promotion to ticket sales.
The states accuse Live Nation of using a series of practices to keep the live music scene under control. They say the company uses long-term contracts to prevent venues from choosing competing ticket sellers, prevents venues from using more than one ticket seller, and threatens venues that they could lose money and fans if they don’t choose Ticketmaster.
Live Nation maintained that artists and crews set prices and decide how tickets will be sold.
Ticketmaster and Live Nation Entertainment, based in Beverly Hills, Calif., have a long history of conflict with major artists and their fans. Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen.
Founded in 1976 and merged with Live Nation in 2010, Ticketmaster is the world’s largest ticket seller for live music, sports, theater and more.
Neumeister reported from New York
