US Prepares Antitrust Suit Against Live Nation Over Ticketmaster

The Justice Department may file an antitrust complaint as soon as next month aimed at forcing Live Nation Entertainment Inc. to spin off its Ticketmaster ticketing business, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The agency has been investigating the entertainment giant for years amid concerns Live Nation has illegally tied its concert promotion services to use of Ticketmaster, in violation of the terms of the 2010 settlement that allowed it to acquire the ticketing company. Two of the people, who asked not to be named discussing the confidential probe, said the timing of a complaint could still slip. ...