Live Nation Entertainment, the parent company of Ticketmaster, has reached a tentative settlement with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) in an antitrust case accusing the company of monopolising the live events industry.
In 2024, after the chaotic ticket sale for Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, the DOJ accused both Ticketmaster and Live Nation of creating an illegal monopoly over the live events market. The DOJ also alleged that Ticketmaster used its monopoly to stifle competition, dominate the ticketing market and gain money from fans through high prices and surcharges.
The settlement deal allows Live Nation to keep Ticketmaster, deviating from the U.S. government’s original plan to break up the company. Live Nation is also to create a settlement fund of up to $280 million (£209 million) to resolve damage claims from the 40 states that were parties to the antitrust lawsuit.
Under the deal, Ticketmaster will be providing both exclusive and non-exclusive ticketing proposals to major concert venues, allowing businesses to use multiple vendors to sell tickets to fans. In addition, the company will allow touring artists to hire other promoters when performing in its venues, and the 13 venues that had exclusive booking arrangements with the company will be opened up to other promoters.
This settlement will also include an eight-year extension of the company’s consent decree with the DOJ, including retaliation and conditioning terms, providing venues with ongoing comfort that the company does not condone such behaviour.
Lawyers for some of the states involved in the case declined the settlement and intend on continuing to pursue action against Live Nation.
The settlement deal is yet to be approved by the federal court.
Live Nation Entertainment issued the following statement:
“Today marks a major step in improving the concert experience for artists and fans throughout the United States. Live Nation is proud to lead the way enhancing this experience with our amphitheaters, which will be open to all promoters, allowing these promoters to decide how best to distribute up to 50% of the tickets, and capping ticketing service fees at 15%,” said Michael Rapino, president and CEO of Live Nation Entertainment.
“By giving artists greater flexibility in choosing their promotional partners and ticketing strategy while also keeping the cost of a concert more affordable for fans, we are putting more power where it should be – with artists and fans. We have never relied on exclusivity to drive our ticketing business; it has simply been the result of having the best products, services and people in the industry. We are happy to take greater steps to empower artists and venues in their ticketing decisions, and are confident we will continue to succeed in the quality of what we deliver.”
Live Nation is a giant of live music and sports. In 2025, it staged over 55,000 concerts around the world, attracting 159 million attendees. The company’s financial results, released in February, showed revenue climbed to $25.2 billion (£18.7 billion) in 2025, a 9% increase from the previous year, while operating profit jumped by over 50% to $1.3 billion.
The firm also holds stakes in 460 venues, and has controlled Ticketmaster, the world's leading ticket seller, since 2010.
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