27 States to Continue Pursuing Live Nation Antitrust Case Despite DOJ Settlement

Live Nation and the U.S. Department of Justice have reached a settlement, ending the long-running antitrust case that had attempted to break-up the pair.

The news, revealed Monday morning via Politico, reported that an agreement is expected Monday, which includes roughly $200 million in payments to participating states, plus a package of “structural” changes aimed at prying open Ticketmaster’s grip on ticketing and Live Nation’s leverage over key venues. The reported settlement would open parts of Ticketmaster’s platform to rivals, shorten exclusivity agreements, require Live Nation to divest more than 10 amphitheaters, and cap fees at its amphitheaters.

| READ: Report: Live Nation, DOJ Strike Deal Settling Antitrust Case and Avoiding Ticketmaster Break-Up |

The suit, filed in 2024 alongside 39 state’s attorneys general, alleges that the company illegally maintains monopolistic control over concert promotion, venue operations, and primary ticketing, stifling competition and inflating costs for artists, venues, and fans.

Since its filing, more than a dozen additional states have signed onto the case, broadening its scope and reinforcing bipartisan frustration with the ticketing giant’s market power. State attorneys general have repeatedly emphasized that consumer harm — from high service fees to limited ticketing choices — has persisted despite years of public scrutiny and congressional hearings.

Despite the reported settlement this week, several state’s attorneys general have decided to move forward and pursue the case at a state level. States continuing the case against Live Nation include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia.

Where do the States stand?

Tennessee

Tennessee AG Jonathan Skrmetti noted in a statement to TicketNews that “Tennessee is the music capital of the world” and “from the neon lights of Broadway to the soul of Memphis and the stages of Appalachia, the entertainment industry is woven into the very fabric of our State’s identity.”

“When a corporate monopoly acts as a gatekeeper to live entertainment, it doesn’t just crank up prices for fans; it threatens the heartbeat of our culture,” Skrmetti said. “Our resolve is not wavered. We are proud to stand with a powerful core of conservative AGs and bipartisan partners from across the country committed to continuing the fight against Ticketmaster/Live Nation.”

| READ: Consumer Advocates Slam Reported DOJ-Live Nation Settlement as ‘Slap on the Wrist’ |

He added that “for decades too long, we’ve seen fans, artists, and independent venues squeezed by a system that prioritzes monopoly power over affordability and quality.”

“We respect the right of each litigant to make their own decision about whether to settle in the middle of trial,” Skrmetti said. “As for us, we will continue to litigate in this case to make sure that in Tennessee, the music never stops.”

Connecticut

Connecticut AG William Tong echoed similar sentiments, noting in a press statement on Monday that “for too long, Live Nation has raked in billions from a monopoly that has made it harder for consumers to see the artists they love, stifled artists, and increased the price of tickets for countless music fans.”

“The case against Live Nation is strong, and the state coalition is committed to holding the company accountable for its illegal behavior, protecting consumers, and restoring competition to this market,” Tong said. “The settlement recently announced does not adequately remedy the harms to the marketplace for live music and to concertgoers caused by Live Nation.

“We are willing and able to stand with other partner states to continue litigating this case without the federal government so that we can hold Live Nation accountable in court and secure appropriate relief in this case. As state attorneys general and antitrust enforcers, we are fully committed to protecting our citizens from illegal monopolies and restoring competition to the live music marketplace.”

New York

New York AG Letitia James said that “for years, Live Nation has made enormous profits by exploiting its illegal monopoly and raising costs for shows” and “my office has led a bipartisan group of attorneys general in suing Live Nation for taking advantage of fans, venues, and artists, and we are committed to holding Live Nation accountable.”

“The settlement recently announced the the U.S. Department of Justice fails to address the monopoly at the center of this case, and would benefit Live Nation at the expense of consumers,” AG James said. “We cannot agree to it. My attorney general colleagues and I have a strong case against Live Nation, and we will continue our lawsuit to protect consumers and restore fair competition to the live entertainment industry.”

AG James added that “we will keep fighting this case without the federal government so that we can secure justice for all those harmed by Live Nation’s monopoly.”

Where do we go from here?

At this time, Live Nation and the DOJ have not publicly released final settlement terms — leaving questions regarding how quickly changes would take effect and how compliance will be monitored. Additionally, Politico has reported that payments would go to “participating states,” though jurisdictions could opt out.

As states decline the settlement and continue to push forward with the case, it seems the settlement will become only a partial resolution for the monopolistic practices at hand.