Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Department of Justice and nearly 30 states filed a lawsuit Thursday to break up the parent company of Ticketmaster, accusing Live Nation of monopolizing the concert industry and driving up ticket prices.
"It's no surprise," attorney Paul Cambria told WBEN on Friday.
Over the past 18 months or so, some major artists have complained, such as Taylor Swift and others, about ticket prices and the availability of stadiums.
"Basically what's happening here is the federal government says there's a monopoly, or a stranglehold, on concerts and things and the result is alleged violations of the anti monopoly laws. There isn't competition. When there is competition, prices stay down. When there is no competition, prices go up," he said.
How will prosecutors prove a monopoly versus a free market?
They have to determine what the company controls. Do they control venues? Do they control talent? If they do, they can set prices. The DOJ said the prices are not competitive because there are no competitors.
Cambria was involved in an anti trust case. It was for companies that provide highway paving, blacktop and concrete.
"The federal government got together and started an investigation and they were able to show that there were meetings where they said things like you'll charge this much and I'll charge this much. It was an agreement to raise prices. Luckily it didn't involve my client," he added.
As a result of the investigation, Cambria explained that hopefully prices will become more competitive and they'll be lower and it won't cost a huge amount of money to go to a concert. "With anti trust laws, consumers win at the end," he said.