Live Nation and Ticketmaster Must Be Broken Up, States Tell Judge
Billboard • • business
Key Points:
- A coalition of state attorneys general has urged a federal judge to break up Live Nation by forcing it to divest Ticketmaster, following a jury verdict that found the company operates an illegal monopoly in the live music market.
- The states argue that divestiture is necessary to restore competition in primary ticketing contracts and also seek the divestment of certain large amphitheaters, restrictions on future acquisitions, and financial damages for consumers.
- Live Nation strongly opposes the breakup, calling the states' request "performative and political," and plans to argue that existing DOJ settlement terms addressing business practices are sufficient to resolve the case.
- The Department of Justice and multiple states sued Live Nation in 2024, claiming its 2010 acquisition of Ticketmaster created a monopoly; while the DOJ reached a settlement without a breakup, many states continued litigation, leading to the April jury verdict against Live Nation.
- The states are now seeking "structural remedies" through court orders to ensure Ticketmaster can operate independently and effectively compete, while Live Nation maintains confidence that the case outcome will align with the DOJ settlement's terms.