WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company this week.
It accuses the company of having an illegal monopoly over concerts and live events.
The Justice Department says this legal challenge could potentially lead to cheaper concert tickets.
They argue Ticketmaster’s practices hurt competition and drive up prices for fans.
“It is time to break up Live Nation Ticketmaster,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday the DOJ and 29 states plus Washington, D.C., are suing Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation alleging they have an illegal monopoly over live events.
“It controls at least 80% of primary ticketing at major concert venues,” said Garland.
The lawsuit says the company has its hand in nearly every part of the industry and blocks venues from using multiple ticket sellers.
“The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services,” said Garland.
A post on Live Nation’s website calls the allegations “baseless” and says they ignore the real factors behind higher ticket prices.
The company said in a statement quote: “The DOJ’s lawsuit won’t solve the issues fans care about relating to ticket prices, service fees, and access to in-demand shows…”
According to the DOJ, Ticketmaster owns or controls more than 265 of North America’s concert venues and dozens of amphitheaters.
