Setting the Stage: DOJ Takes Aim at Live Nation-Ticketmaster
Back in May 2024, the Department of Justice fired a powerful shot at one of the music industry’s most dominant forces—Live Nation-Ticketmaster. The complaint paints a picture of a corporation leveraging its near-ubiquitous platform to stifle rival ticketing services, squeeze out smaller promoters, and corner the live event market. Ticketmaster’s exclusivity deals, coupled with alleged punitive measures for those who dare to partner with competitors, have fueled the DOJ’s claims of monopolistic behavior.
A longtime music promoter I spoke with, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, told me, “It’s nearly impossible to book a major artist without dealing with Live Nation. You play ball with them, or you get shut out.”The DOJ, citing its commitment to preserving fair competition and protecting consumers from exorbitant fees, has thrown down the gauntlet. Now it’s a race to see if Live Nation-Ticketmaster can justify its business model as standard competitive fare or if it stands on the brink of antitrust liability.
