Virginia AG Statement on Live Nation Antitrust Settlement

Detected March 26th, 2026

Summary

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones released a statement regarding the U.S. Department of Justice and Live Nation's antitrust settlement. The AG expressed that the settlement does not adequately remedy the harms to the marketplace and concertgoers and indicated a willingness to continue litigating the case with other states.

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What changed

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued a statement on the U.S. Department of Justice's settlement with Live Nation and Ticketmaster concerning alleged monopolization of the live entertainment and concert ticketing industry. The statement indicates that the current settlement does not sufficiently address the harms caused by Live Nation's anticompetitive practices, which have allegedly made it harder for consumers to access artists, stifled artists, and increased ticket prices.

While the federal government has settled, the coalition of state attorneys general, including Virginia, remains committed to litigating the case independently to secure appropriate relief. This suggests that regulated entities in the live entertainment and ticketing sector should anticipate continued scrutiny and potential litigation from state-level antitrust enforcers, even if a federal settlement is reached. The AG's statement underscores a commitment to restoring competition and protecting consumers from illegal monopolies.

What to do next

Monitor ongoing litigation by state attorneys general regarding Live Nation's market practices.
Review internal practices for potential anticompetitive behavior in the live entertainment and ticketing sectors.

Source document (simplified)

News Releases

Commonwealth of Virginia
Office of the Attorney General

Jay Jones
Attorney General

202 North 9th Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804-786-2071
FAX 804-786-1991
Virginia Relay Service
800-828-1120

For media inquiries only, contact:
Rae Pickett
RPickett@oag.state.va.us

Attorney General Jay Jones Statement on Live Nation Antitrust Settlement

Richmond, VA - Today, Attorney General Jay Jones released the following multistate statement in response to the U.S. Department of Justice and Live Nation’s settlement announcement in their antitrust suit, which includes Ticketmaster, for illegally monopolizing the live entertainment industry and concert ticketing services.

“In May 2024, a bipartisan group of state attorneys general joined the U.S. Department of Justice to sue Live Nation for its anticompetitive behavior related to concert ticketing and promotion. For too long, Live Nation has raked in billions from a monopoly that has made it harder for consumers to see the artists they love, stifled artists, and increased the price of tickets for countless music fans.

“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. The settlement recently announced does not adequately remedy the harms to the marketplace for live music and to concertgoers caused by Live Nation. We are willing and able to stand with other partner states to continue litigating this case 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.”