US Sues to Break Up Live Nation, Ticketmaster ‘Monopoly’ (3)

The US Justice Department and almost 30 states sued Live Nation Entertainment Inc., alleging an “entrenched” illegal monopoly over the live events industry and seeking to force the company to sell off ticketing giant Ticketmaster.

In a lawsuit filed Thursday in New York federal court, antitrust enforcers claim Live Nation and Ticketmaster have engaged in a variety of anticompetitive practices, including locking venues into long-term exclusive contracts and retaliating against rivals and venues that seek to use alternatives.

“The live music industry in America is broken because Live Nation Ticketmaster abuses its monopoly,” Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Jonathan ...