The Justice Department reached a settlement in its antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation.
This was the case in 2024 that alleged that Live Nation had an illegal monopoly over live events in the U.S.
“DOJ, when they brought the case in 2024, said that the remedy that matters here is a breakup, literally to split Live Nation off from Ticketmaster to unwind the merger that took place in 2010,” Bill Kovacic, George Washington University law school professor; former FTC Chair, and co-editor of the Journal of Antitrust Enforcement, told KNX News’ Emily Valdez.
While the terms of the deal haven't been disclosed yet, sources tell CBS News that Live Nation agreed to pay $280 million in civil penalties to the 40 states in the lawsuit and that it's going sell some of its amphitheaters.
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They also report Ticketmaster must open its technology to allow other ticket sellers to use its platform.
“So the DOJ solution does not preclude states like California and New York from pressing ahead, asking for a breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, and it doesn't get in the way of a judge of imposing that,” Kovacic said.
State Attorney General Rob Bonta and a bipartisan group of AGs say they will continue with the landmark antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation/Ticketmaster, rejecting the settlement of the case days into the trial.
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