Based on a brand new report, the U.S. Division of Justice will take authorized motion in an effort to interrupt up Stay Nation and Ticketmaster.
The transfer is a part of a brand new antitrust lawsuit the DOJ is ready to file in New York. The opportunity of such authorized motion has been constructing for a while, as federal regulators have been investigating Stay Nation since 2022.
Bloomberg was the primary to report the pending litigation, formally saying that “the US Justice Division and a gaggle of states will sue Stay Nation Leisure Inc. for antitrust violations associated to Ticketmaster’s unequalled management of live performance ticket gross sales.”
Rolling Stone adopted with a report of their very own, including that the “swimsuit has been probably the most anticipated potential authorized actions within the dwell music trade.”
What Have Stay Nation and Ticketmaster Been Accused Of?
Stay Nation and Ticketmaster have been below intense scrutiny from followers, regulators and competing firms alike ever since they merged in 2010. Critics have argued that the facility wielded by the conglomerate has made it just about inconceivable for different live performance promoters and ticketing firms to compete. Others have accused Stay Nation of utilizing their would possibly to artificially inflate live performance ticket costs.
READ MORE: Stay Nation Practically Tripled Income From 2021 to 2022 as Ticket Costs Saved
Stay Nation has constantly pushed again in opposition to antitrust allegations, insisting that artists and the venues themselves are sometimes those who influence ticket costs.
“Statements to the impact that Stay Nation and Ticketmaster ‘hold ticket costs excessive’ are simply flat improper,” Dan Wall, Stay Nation’s Govt Vice President for Company and Regulatory Affairs, wrote in an essay earlier this 12 months. “Anybody with a fundamental understanding of the trade is aware of this. Those that perpetuate this falsehood are cynical at greatest. They do a disservice to shoppers and to rational political discourse.”
The Rock + Steel Artists Who Have Bought the Most Live performance Tickets (5 Million or Extra)
IMPORTANT:
These live performance ticket totals date again to 1981, which is when Pollstar started monitoring.
Artists are listed so as of least to most tickets offered with 5 million tickets being the minimal threshold.
Solely three rock artists have offered greater than 20 million tickets!
Gallery Credit score: Joe DiVita
