By Drew Ketterer | dcjournal.com
After a years-long investigation and building public anticipation, the Justice Department filed an antitrust complaint against Live Nation Entertainment, arguing the Ticketmaster parent company has reduced competition and caused higher ticket prices and fees. “It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland.
The Justice Department says Live Nation-Ticketmaster has successfully threatened competitors, retaliated against venues that work with rivals, and eliminated competitive threats by acquiring rivals. In one example, a Live Nation executive wrote in an email that an acquisition was “a defensive move” against AEG, a competitor.