The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is preparing to file an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster this week, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The lawsuit, expected to be announced Thursday (May 23rd), follows a two-year investigation into the companies' business practices.

The investigation centers on allegations that Live Nation has created a monopoly in live event ticketing through exclusive venue contracts. Venues have reported experiencing pressure tactics and facing difficulties booking artists when not using Ticketmaster's services.

Key points about the case:

• A successful antitrust lawsuit could force Live Nation and Ticketmaster to split
• The companies control over 70% of the ticketing and live events market
• Previous violations resulted in fines related to a 2010 DOJ consent decree
• Increased scrutiny followed the 2022 Taylor Swift Eras Tour ticketing crisis

The companies have faced ongoing criticism for:

• Speculative ticket sales
• Deceptive ticketing websites
• Hidden fees
• Market dominance concerns

In response to mounting pressure, Live Nation met with President Biden in June, implementing "upfront all-in" pricing to improve transparency. The company's president, Joe Berchtold, previously attributed industry problems to ticket scalping during a January congressional hearing.

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