The Department of Justice (DoJ) is opposing Live Nation's request to transfer their antitrust lawsuit from New York to Washington D.C., emphasizing that the existing consent decree is not relevant to the current case.

The DoJ's arguments center on the fact that this case does not seek to modify, enforce, or undo the 2010 consent decree (amended in 2020). Instead, the lawsuit focuses on new allegations of anticompetitive behavior across multiple segments of the live music industry.

Key allegations in the lawsuit include:

• Maintaining illegal monopolies in primary ticketing, concert promotion, and large amphitheaters
• Using exclusive long-term contracts to restrict competition
• Forcing artists to use Live Nation's promotion services to access large venues
• Acquiring rival companies across multiple sectors
• Leveraging secondary ticketing markets
• Implementing anticompetitive agreements

The DoJ argues that New York is the appropriate venue for the case, citing:

• New York's significance as a major live music industry hub
• Presence of Ticketmaster's main competitors
• Location of numerous relevant venues and witnesses
• Live Nation's largest office outside California

The case, supported by 29 states and D.C., alleges that Live Nation and Ticketmaster's combined power has made them gatekeepers of America's live music industry, resulting in harm to both competition and consumers across five different markets.

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