North Carolina AG joins national lawsuit alleging abuse by Ticketmaster, Live Nation

Ahmed Jallow
·2 min read
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
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Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona. North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein has joined with other attorneys general in a lawsuit against Ticketmaster over its sales practices to entertainment events. Complaints against Ticketmaster soared in 2022 after the botched rollout of tickets to Taylor Swift shows. (Kevin Winter | Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

North Carolina is among 29 states and the District of Columbia joining a federal lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation, according to a statement from the state’s Department of Justice . The lawsuit alleges the companies have hurt consumers by monopolizing the live entertainment industry, leading to higher prices for live shows. 

Josh Stein
Josh Stein

“Live Nation is using its monopoly power to force North Carolinians to pay more than they should for tickets to live events,” Attorney General Josh Stein said in a press release. “Tickets to shows are already expensive enough. I will not allow any company to use its monopoly power to charge people even more. That’s why I am bringing today’s action.” 

In the lawsuit filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the U.S. Department of Justice accused Live Nation of raising fees and making it difficult for fans to know the final cost of attending a show. 

According to lawsuit, Live Nation:  

  • Harmed fans through higher fees and by limiting the amount of information fans have regarding the ultimate cost to see a show. Fans’ ticketing experience — from buying a ticket to showtime — is also worse than it would be if the industry was competitive. 

  • Maintained its monopoly in ticketing markets by locking up venues through restrictive long-term, exclusive agreements and threats that venues would lose access to Live Nation-controlled tours and artists if they sign with a rival ticketer. 

  • Leveraged its extensive network of venues to force artists to select Live Nation as a promoter instead of its rivals, maintaining its promotions monopoly. 

The lawsuit seeks to bar Live Nation from anticompetitive practices, force the company to divest Ticketmaster, and obtain financial compensation for fans allegedly overcharged for concert tickets. 

Public scrutiny of Ticketmaster’s practices intensified in 2022 following the troubled rollout of Taylor Swift concert tickets. This incident led to a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing examining the company’s role in the ticketing industry. 

The post North Carolina AG joins national lawsuit alleging abuse by Ticketmaster, Live Nation appeared first on NC Newsline.