WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the Justice Department is coming after Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster.
“It controls at least 80% of primary ticketing at major concert venues,” Garland said at a news conference Thursday. “It is time to break it up.”
The DOJ accused the entertainment company of running an illegal monopoly over live events in the U.S., blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers and driving up prices.
“Fans pay more in fees. Artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts,” Garland said.
Thirty states brought the lawsuit forward, including Connecticut. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) has worked with other senators in the past to investigate the company. He said he’s proud his home state is pushing to punish Live Nation.
“It is way past time to break them up,” Blumenthal said.
He points out this issue impacts Americans of all ages across the country.
“A break up of Live Nation would be music to fans’ ears,” Blumenthal quipped.
Carl Szabo, VP and General Counsel at NetChoice, supports this move. He called it “the most slam dunk antitrust lawsuit we’ve seen in a long time.”
Live nation is furious with this announcement, and put out a statement saying, “the DOJ’s lawsuit won’t solve the issues fans care about relating to ticket prices, service fees and access to in-demand shows.”