Klobuchar Statement on Reports that the Justice Department Will File An Antitrust Lawsuit Against Live Nation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, issued the following statement on reports that the Department of Justice will file a lawsuit against Live Nation alleging the company has violated antitrust laws.

"I have long advocated for robust competition in live events ticketing markets and I called on the Justice Department to investigate the state of competition in the live entertainment industry, including anticompetitive and anti-consumer actions by Live Nation. Our hearing last year provided important evidence of the impact of Live Nation's monopoly on fans, artists, venues, and other ticketing platforms for the Justice Department to use in its case. If the reports are correct, the Justice Department is doing the right thing by bringing this suit against Live Nation. This is about ensuring fair treatment for fans everywhere and reinvigorating competition in ticketing markets."

As Chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, Senator Klobuchar is a leading voice in the Senate on antitrust enforcement and consumer protection.

In January 2023, Klobuchar held a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the problems in America's ticketing markets. Klobuchar highlighted the need to promote competition in the ticketing industry to protect consumers.

In February 2023, Klobuchar sent evidence from the hearing to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and called on the DOJ to continue examining Live Nation and Ticketmaster's anticompetitive conduct.

In November 2022, Klobuchar wrote a letter to Live Nation expressing concern about the lack of competition in the ticketing industry and questioning whether the company is taking necessary steps to provide the best service it can to consumers.

In December 2023, Klobuchar and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Fans First Act, which would help address flaws in the current live event ticketing system by increasing transparency in ticket sales, protecting consumers from fake or dramatically overpriced tickets, and holding bad actors who engage in illegal ticket sale practices accountable.

In October 2023, Klobuchar wrote a letter to Live Nation Entertainment CEO Michael Rapino requesting an update on price transparency efforts and highlighted the critical need for an honest consumer experience when purchasing tickets.

In April 2023, Klobuchar and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the Unlock Ticketing Markets Act to improve competition in live event ticketing markets by empowering the Federal Trade Commission to prevent the use of excessively long multi-year exclusive contracts that lock out competitors, decrease incentives to innovate new services, and increase costs for fans.

In April 2020, Klobuchar, and Senators Blumenthal (D-CT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division to take action to ensure small and independent venues can compete on a level playing field in the live entertainment marketplace. In August 2019, they called on the DOJ Antitrust Division to investigate the state of competition in the ticketing marketplace, given news reports that Ticketmaster-Live Nation was not adhering to the conditions of the antitrust consent decree governing its merger.

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