The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and several state attorneys general are preparing to file an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, with an announcement expected as early as Thursday (May 23rd). Multiple sources close to the matter have confirmed this development to major news outlets including ABC News and CNN.

The DOJ's two-year 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 potential retaliation, including Live Nation refusing to book artists at venues that don't use Ticketmaster services.

A successful antitrust case could result in the forced separation of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, potentially reshaping the live ticketing industry. The companies previously paid fines in 2019 for violating terms of a DOJ consent decree from their 2010 merger.

The investigation intensified following the 2022 Taylor Swift Eras Tour pre-sale debacle, where Ticketmaster's system crash left millions of fans unable to purchase tickets. With over 70% market share in ticketing and live events, the incident sparked congressional hearings where Live Nation president Joe Berchtold faced intense scrutiny.

In response to mounting pressure, Live Nation met with President Biden in June 2023 and implemented changes, including "upfront all-in" pricing that discloses all fees during ticket shopping. The company maintains that ticket scalping, not market dominance, is the primary industry issue.

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