The Justice Department reached a settlement in its antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, on Monday in a case that alleged an illegal monopoly over live events in America. Under terms of the deal, Live Nation will pony up $280 million in civil penalties to 40 states and allow competing ticket sellers on its platform, reports CBS News. The deal comes as the two sides face trial in New York over whether to dismantle the monopoly the Justice Department said was squelching competition and driving up prices for fans, per the AP. The case, brought under President Biden's administration in 2024, accused Live Nation of using threats, retaliation, and other tactics to "suffocate the competition" by controlling virtually every aspect of the industry, from concert promotion to ticketing.
The Justice Department accused Live Nation of engaging in a slew of practices that have allowed it to maintain a stranglehold over the live music scene. The Justice Department has said the company uses long-term contracts to keep venues from choosing rival ticketers, blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers and threatening venues that they could lose money and fans if they don't choose Ticketmaster. Live Nation has maintained that artists and teams set prices and decide how tickets are sold. Ticketmaster and Live Nation Entertainment, based in Beverly Hills, California, have a long history of clashes with major artists and their fans, including Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen. Ticketmaster, which merged with Live Nation in 2010, is the world's largest ticket seller across live music, sports, theater, and more.
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
