The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Monday that 10 more states have joined the antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation.
Attorneys General of Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, and Vermont I signed this caseIt joins 29 other states and the District of Columbia.
The lawsuit, first filed in May, accused the ticket sellers of stifling competition in the live entertainment industry, depriving American music fans of innovative ticket options and forcing them to pay higher prices than fans in other countries.
“When companies like Live Nation and Ticketmaster become monopolies, it’s the American people who pay the price,” Iowa Attorney General Brenna Byrd (R) said in a statement. “I’m suing to uphold the law and ensure that no American has to suffer inflated prices or poor customer service because Live Nation and Ticketmaster stifle competition.”
The Department of Justice filed an amended complaint Monday in the Southern District of New York with 10 new co-plaintiffs.
“By joining this lawsuit, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting consumers and ensuring a level playing field in the marketplace,” New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torres, a Democrat, said in a statement. “Live Nation Ticketmaster’s monopolistic conduct has harmed not only the live entertainment industry but also countless fans who are entitled to fair access to events.”
Ticketmaster’s chaos during pre-sales for Taylor Swift’s 2022 “Eraser Tour” left many fans unable to purchase tickets, leading to increased scrutiny of the ticketing company.
“The amended complaint does nothing new, and the lawsuit does not resolve issues that fans care about, including ticket prices, service fees and access to popular performances,” a Live Nation spokesperson said. “We look forward to more facts coming to light as the litigation progresses.”
Updated 3:09 p.m.
