Judge rejects Live Nation bid to toss feds’ – Business News
A federal choose on Wednesday rejected Live Nation Entertainment’s bid to dismiss a lawsuit by the federal authorities and plenty of states accusing the company of illegally attempting to dominate the stay live performance industry.
The choice by US District Judge Arun Subramanian cleared the way in which for a doable antitrust trial in Manhattan federal court docket, with jury choice scheduled to start on March 2.
“There is a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether Live Nation has used monopoly power to foreclose competition,” Subramanian wrote.
Fans and politicians intensified their calls for after Ticketmaster subjected Taylor Swift followers to high costs and hours-long online queues for her 2022 “Eras” tour. / SplashNews.com
Live Nation and its attorneys didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
Shares of the Beverly Hills, Calif.-based company fell more than 7% in after-hours trading shortly after the choice, earlier than recovering these losses.
The May 2024 lawsuit by the Department of Justice, 39 states and Washington, DC, accused Live Nation of monopolizing markets for ticketing, concert-booking, venues and promotions, harming followers in addition to performers.
Fans and politicians had long urged regulators to re-examine Live Nation’s 2010 buy of Ticketmaster.
A 2024 lawsuit by the Department of Justice, 39 states and Washington, DC, accused Live Nation of monopolizing markets for ticketing, concert-booking, venues and promotions, harming followers in addition to performers. REUTERS
They intensified their calls for after Ticketmaster subjected Taylor Swift followers to high costs and hours-long online queues for her 2022 “Eras” tour.
Subramanian stated the federal government plaintiffs can attempt to show that Live Nation improperly tied use of its amphitheaters to live performance promotion providers, and illegally dominated the market for ticketing providers to main live performance venues.
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The choose additionally stated states can attempt to search damages for ticket-buying followers, saying it was “reasonably foreseeable” that followers may need been harmed and that Live Nation’s antitrust-injury problem “falls flat.”
Subramanian dismissed different claims, together with that Live Nation monopolized live performance promotions and concert-booking providers at main venues.
In looking for a dismissal, Live Nation denied exercising monopoly energy and stated there was no proof its conduct harmed “consumer welfare,” akin to by raising costs or decreasing high quality. It additionally stated states lacked legal authority to sue on behalf of followers.
