On July 9, 2025, regulatory scrutiny surrounding Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary Ticketmaster intensified, as U.S. regulators and the White House considered actions to address competition concerns in the live entertainment industry. The focus centers on the companies’ substantial control over ticket sales and event promotions, prompting calls for increased oversight to ensure fair practices.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), alongside 40 state and district attorneys general, has filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, alleging monopolization and other unlawful conduct that thwarts competition in markets across the live entertainment industry. The lawsuit, filed in May 2024, seeks to restore competition in the live concert industry, provide better choices at lower prices for fans, and open venue doors for working musicians and other performance artists.
The lawsuit accuses Live Nation-Ticketmaster of engaging in exclusionary conduct and dominance across the live concert ecosystem, harming fans, innovation, artists, and venues. The DOJ alleges that the company unlawfully exercises its monopoly power in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act. As a result, music fans in the United States are deprived of ticketing innovation and forced to use outdated technology while paying more for tickets than fans in other countries. At the same time, Live Nation-Ticketmaster exercises its power over performers, venues, and independent promoters in ways that harm competition.
In response to mounting regulatory pressure, Live Nation has submitted proposed reforms to federal regulators, including ticket resale caps and stronger enforcement of the BOTS Act, amid growing concerns over the live entertainment ticketing market. The company, which owns Ticketmaster, is calling for several key changes in the secondary ticketing market. Among the suggestions are a 20% cap on ticket resale prices, increased control for artists over how their tickets are resold, and stronger enforcement of existing laws like the 2016 BOTS Act, which targets automated ticket-buying software.
The federal response includes a plan for a joint report by the DOJ, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Department of the Treasury, with the FTC leading the review of BOTS Act enforcement. The conversation comes as Live Nation faces additional legal pressure from the DOJ, which filed a lawsuit alleging antitrust violations. In announcing the suit, then-Attorney General Merrick Garland cited repeated concerns over high fees and system failures affecting consumers and performers.
This legal action follows a series of controversies, including the high-profile Ticketmaster crash during Taylor Swift’s 2022 Eras Tour ticket sales, which led to widespread criticism and calls for increased regulation. The DOJ and FTC have since invited public comments on potentially harmful and anticompetitive practices in the live ticketing industry, as part of efforts to enforce fair competition. This move follows an executive order issued in March by President Donald Trump directing both agencies to address issues such as bot-based ticket scalping and to report their progress within six months.
As the legal proceedings continue, Live Nation and Ticketmaster face significant challenges in defending their business practices and maintaining their dominant position in the live entertainment industry. The outcome of these cases could have far-reaching implications for the future of ticketing and concert promotion in the United States.