Blumenthal Statement on Department of Justice Antitrust Complaint Against Ticketmaster/Live Nation

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) issued the following statement on the Department of Justice’s complaint filed today against Live Nation Entertainment for allegedly violating antitrust laws:

“This enforcement action should be music to the ears of consumers—a strong step supporting fair competition. Fans, artists, venues, small promoters and many others will enjoy enormous benefits. For far too long, Live Nation’s exercise of monopolistic control over this industry has boxed out competition, leading to astronomically rising prices and exorbitant hidden fees. The Department identifying unlawful, anticompetitive conduct makes it clear: unwinding the Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger must be on the table.”

Blumenthal has consistently spoken out about Live Nation’s anticompetitive behavior in the wake of the company’s merger with Ticketmaster. As Chair of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), Blumenthal issued a subpoena to Live Nation for documents related to the company’s ticket pricing, fees, and resale practices. The subpoena followed a months-long, previously unannounced inquiry launched by PSI into Live Nation’s practices after several recent high-profile incidents affecting music fans, including Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen tours. In November 2022, Blumenthal wrote to Department of Justice Attorney General Merrick Garland calling for the Department to vigorously investigate the state of competition in live entertainment and ticketing markets as well as assess Live Nation’s compliance with consent decrees.

Blumenthal is also the author of the BOSS and SWIFT Act, legislation to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive practices in the primary and secondary ticket marketplaces.

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