10 More States Join DOJ Lawsuit Against Ticketmaster and Live Nation

Settlement deal includes $280 million civil fine, but Massachusetts vows to continue its own lawsuit.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Department of Justice's antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation has gained support from 10 additional states, who have joined the legal action. This comes after Live Nation agreed to a settlement deal with the DOJ that includes a civil fine of up to $280 million. However, the state of Massachusetts has announced that it will continue its own lawsuit against Live Nation, even after the federal settlement.

Why it matters

The DOJ lawsuit alleges that Live Nation's anticompetitive practices, such as forcing venues to use Ticketmaster exclusively and strategically acquiring venues to eliminate competition, have violated antitrust laws and stifled innovation in the live events industry. The continued legal action by Massachusetts suggests that some states believe the federal settlement does not go far enough in addressing these concerns.

The details

The DOJ's lawsuit, originally filed in 2019, alleges that Ticketmaster and Live Nation have abused their dominant market position to harm consumers and stifle competition. The settlement deal announced on March 9, 2026 includes a civil fine of up to $280 million and requires Live Nation to divest certain venue assets and refrain from retaliating against venues that use other ticketing services. However, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has stated that the state will continue its own lawsuit against Live Nation, arguing that the federal settlement does not adequately address the company's anticompetitive practices.

  • On March 9, 2026, Live Nation agreed to settle with the DOJ.
  • 10 additional states have joined the DOJ's antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation.

The players

Department of Justice (DOJ)

The U.S. federal agency responsible for enforcing antitrust laws and investigating anticompetitive practices.

Ticketmaster

A subsidiary of Live Nation Entertainment that is the dominant provider of ticketing services for live events in the United States.

Live Nation Entertainment

A major live events company that owns and operates concert venues, promotes tours, and owns Ticketmaster.

Maura Healey

The Attorney General of Massachusetts, who has announced that the state will continue its own lawsuit against Live Nation despite the federal settlement.

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What’s next

The judge overseeing the DOJ's lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation will need to approve the settlement agreement. Meanwhile, the state of Massachusetts will continue to pursue its own legal action against the companies.

The takeaway

The continued legal action by Massachusetts highlights the ongoing concerns about Live Nation's dominance in the live events industry and the need for stronger antitrust enforcement to promote competition and protect consumers.