Press Release  AG Campbell Vows To Continue Antitrust Lawsuit Against Live Nation Despite DOJ Settlement

BOSTON — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today released the following statement affirming her commitment to continue her office’s ongoing antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, despite the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)’s announcement today that it will settle its case. 

“For years, Live Nation’s illegal monopoly has driven up prices, squeezed out competition, and left consumers with few choices and little recourse. The DOJ’s settlement falls far short of protecting consumers, artists, and venues from the harms that Live Nation and Ticketmaster have caused,” said AG Campbell. “As Attorney General, my job is to uphold the law and protect Massachusetts residents from companies that rig the market against consumers. That’s why I’ll continue to pursue litigation against Live Nation and keep fighting to protect consumers, restore competition, and hold Live Nation accountable for its illegal behavior.” 

In 2024, AG Campbell joined the DOJ and a bipartisan coalition of 39 other attorneys general in suing Live Nation and Ticketmaster for monopolizing the live entertainment industry, resulting in higher fees to consumers, fewer choices, and less innovation in the live entertainment industry. In their lawsuit, the coalition alleged that Live Nation and Ticketmaster:  

• Forced venues to agree to restrictive long-term agreements that require these venues to exclusively use Ticketmaster for ticketing;
• Threatened that venues would lose access to Live Nation-controlled tours and artists if they sign with a ticketer that is not Ticketmaster;
• Used its extensive network of amphitheaters to coerce artists into selecting Live Nation as a promoter instead of its rivals;
• Threatened rival promoters to attempt to prevent their entry into the United States market; and
• Serially and strategically acquired promoters, venues, and festivals to eliminate competition in the live entertainment industry. 

Live Nation owns or controls more than 265 concert venues in North America, including House of Blues Boston, MGM Music Hall in Fenway, Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston, and Xfinity Center in Mansfield. It conducts the majority of concert promotions across the country, manage more than 400 musical artists, and, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Ticketmaster, controls roughly 80% or more of major concert venues’ primary ticketing for concerts.

AG Campbell will continue to litigate her case against Live Nation and advocate for the complete divestiture of Ticketmaster alongside the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. 

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