Justice files antitrust suit against Ticketmaster, Live Nation, scrutiny heightened after Swift tour

The Justice Department on Thursday filed an antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation Entertainment, alleging they have run an illegal monopoly over live events in the United States that have stifled competition and driven up prices ticket prices.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Manhattan and was being brought with 30 state and district attorneys general and seeks to break up the monopoly, which they say has pushed smaller promoters out of the market and has hurt entertainers.

“We allege that Live Nation relies on unlawful, anticompetitive conduct to exercise its monopolistic control over the live events industry in the United States at the cost of fans, artists, smaller promoters, and venue operators,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. 

Ticketmaster/Live Nations has been under increased scrutiny since its 2022 fiasco with pre-sales for Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour.

Ticketmaster and Live Nation have been accused of mistreating customers, having deceptive websites hiding large fees ever since they merged in 2010, according to ABC News.