States Demand Stronger Rules for Ticketmaster and Live Nation

More than a dozen states want the government to step in and make changes at Ticketmaster and its parent, Live Nation. Utah’s lawyer says the two companies make tickets too expensive and stop other sellers from competing. He wants to protect people in Utah who pay more than they should for concerts. The companies and the Justice Department almost agreed to a $280 million deal. The plan would let other firms sell tickets at the same venues, limit extra fees to 15 percent, and give away 13 amphitheaters. The government would watch over the companies for eight years. Ticketmaster’s boss says it has never used exclusivity to control the market. He claims they succeed because of good products and services, but he agrees to give artists more choice.Utah’s data shows people spent $400. 4 million on live shows in 2024. Other states feel the same way. A judge in New York was shocked when he learned about the deal. He said it was “unacceptable” that no one told him before it was signed. Many state attorneys think the settlement is not enough. They say it does not break up the monopoly and still lets Ticketmaster and Live Nation charge high fees, limit artists, and push out independent venues. The states asking for more action are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the District of Columbia.