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Justice Department Sues Live Nation and Ticketmaster for Monopolizing Concert Industry

In 2022, Ticketmaster's mishandling of sales for Taylor Swift's Eras tour prompted an enormous public outcry.

Joined by 29 states and the District of Columbia, the federal suit accused the entertainment giant of blocking innovation in the industry by establishing what officials referred to as a "self-reinforcing 'flywheel,'" using its various business components to capture all fees associated with concerts. In 2010, federal regulators, including those at the Justice Department, approved the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, which ultimately allowed the promotional, venue and ticketing industries to be brought under the control of one corporation. According to the complaint, Live Nation has strong-armed businesses with financial retaliation if they engage with its competitors and has wielded its control over the market by threatening to pull future events if venues opt not to use Ticketmaster exclusively.

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