Garland announces antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, Ticketmaster: ‘It is time to break it up’

At a press conference on Thursday, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced an antitrust lawsuit, with 29 states and the District of Columbia, against Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster alleging anticompetitive practices. “It is time to break it up,” Garland said.

Video Transcript

Earlier today, the Department of Justice joined by 29 states and the District of Columbia sued Live Nation Entertainment and its wholly owned subsidiary Ticketmaster for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act.

In recent years, Live Nation Ticketmaster’s exorbitant fees and technological failures have been criticized by fans and artists alike, but we are not here today because Live Nation Ticketmaster’s conduct is inconvenient or frustrating.

We are here because as we allege that conduct is anti competitive and illegal.

Our complaint makes clear what happens when a monopolist dedicates its resources to entrenching its monopoly power and insulating itself from competition rather than investing in better products and services.

We allege that Live Nation has illegally monopolized markets across the live concert industry in the United States for far too long.

It is time to break it up.