Jones vows to continue Live Nation litigation despite settlement

Attorney General Jay Jones said that his office is “willing and able” to continue antitrust litigation against Live Nation despite a settlement between the live entertainment company, which owns Ticketmaster, and the U.S. Department of Justice. 

Initially filed in 2024, the suit claimed Live Nation had a monopoly on the live events industry by controlling ticketing, venues and promotion – effectively freezing out competitors and locking both artists and venues into exclusivity deals.  

The suit was joined by 40 attorneys general from across the country.  

But on March 9, Live Nation announced the company reached a settlement with the federal government. Under the reported terms of the settlement, Live Nation agreed to change its ticketing deals to allow venues to use multiple vendors to sell tickets and requires Live Nation to allow touring artists to use other promoters. 

Live Nation further announced the company has created a $280 million settlement fund “to address the states’ damages claims.” 

But a bipartisan group of the states in the suit, including Virginia, have moved to continue the litigation. 

“The case against Live Nation is strong, and the state coalition is committed to holding the company accountable for its illegal behavior, protecting consumers, and restoring competition to this market,” Jones said in a March 9 news release. “The settlement recently announced does not adequately remedy the harms to the marketplace for live music and to concertgoers caused by Live Nation.” 

Jones said that he and other state attorneys general who look to pursue the case would continue litigating without the federal government “so that we can hold Live Nation accountable in court and secure appropriate relief in this case.” 

“As state attorneys general and antitrust enforcers, we are fully committed to protecting our citizens from illegal monopolies and restoring competition to the live music marketplace,” Jones said.  

According to a statement from New York Attorney General Letitia James, 26 states and the District of Columbia are electing to continue the lawsuit.