The Department of Justice (DoJ) has opposed Live Nation's request to transfer their antitrust lawsuit from New York to Washington D.C., arguing that the existing consent decree is not relevant to the current case.

The DoJ maintains that the case isn't seeking to "enforce, construe, or undo" the 2010 consent decree (amended in 2020). Instead, it focuses on new allegations of anticompetitive behavior across multiple sectors of the live music industry.

Key allegations against Live Nation and Ticketmaster include:

• Maintaining unlawful monopolies in primary ticketing, concert promotion, and large amphitheaters
• Using long-term exclusive contracts to restrict competition
• Forcing artists to use Live Nation's promotion services to access large venues
• Acquiring rival companies in ticketing, venues, and promotion
• Leveraging secondary ticketing markets
• Implementing anticompetitive agreements

The DoJ argues that New York is the appropriate venue for the case, citing:

• Its significance as a live music industry hub
• Presence of Ticketmaster's competitors
• Location of numerous relevant venues and witnesses
• Live Nation's largest office outside California

The United States, along with 29 states and D.C., claim that Live Nation and Ticketmaster have become dominant gatekeepers of America's live music industry, resulting in harm to both competition and consumers across five different markets.

Related Articles

Previous Articles