What to anticipate as a concertgoer in light of the DOJ lawsuit

Ticketmaster, the dominant force in the U.S. ticket-selling market, is facing a major legal challenge from the Justice Department. Attorney General Merrick Garland has filed a lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation, aiming to break up the entertainment giant and allow more competition in the industry. This move is expected to potentially lead to cheaper tickets for concertgoers, sports fans, and theater patrons.

The lawsuit alleges that Live Nation has engaged in practices that have allowed it to maintain a stronghold over the live music scene, including using long-term contracts to prevent venues from choosing rival ticketers and threatening venues that they could lose money and fans if they don’t choose Ticketmaster. The uproar caused by Taylor Swift fans encountering problems while trying to buy tickets for her Eras Tour in 2022 highlighted the issues within the U.S. ticketing system.

Experts believe that the lawsuit could take a long time to resolve, with a trial possibly lasting a year before a ruling is issued. Ticket prices have been on the rise for various reasons, including a surge in demand post-COVID-19. Live Nation reported a significant increase in ticket sales and attendance at their events, leading to higher average ticket prices.

Ticketmaster and Live Nation have denied acting in a monopolistic manner and have stated that the lawsuit won’t address the issues fans care about regarding ticket prices and access to shows. The outcome of this legal battle could have far-reaching implications for the ticket-selling industry, as the government continues to target big companies engaging in monopolistic practices.