California AG Sues Live Nation/Ticketmaster for Anticompetitive Practices

CA Attorney General Press Releases

Filed February 28th, 2026

Detected March 2nd, 2026

Summary

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster for alleged anticompetitive practices. The lawsuit, filed in conjunction with the DOJ and 30 other states, seeks to restore competition in the live entertainment industry and secure financial compensation for affected fans.

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What changed

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has laid out the state's case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster ahead of a trial, alleging violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act and California's Unfair Competition Law. The lawsuit, initially filed in 2024 by Bonta, the U.S. DOJ, and a coalition of 30 attorneys general, claims Live Nation has used its market dominance to engage in anticompetitive behaviors, harming fans through higher fees, venues through exclusive agreements, and artists by leveraging its control over concert promotions. The state is seeking to prohibit these practices, divest Ticketmaster, and obtain financial compensation for California and consumers who were overcharged.

The practical implications for regulated entities, particularly those in the live entertainment and ticketing sectors, involve increased scrutiny of market practices and potential future enforcement actions. While this document details an ongoing trial, it signals a strong regulatory stance against monopolistic behavior. Companies should review their contractual agreements with venues and artists, as well as their ticketing fee structures, to ensure compliance with antitrust laws and avoid potential legal challenges. The lawsuit aims to foster a more competitive market, which could lead to changes in industry standards and pricing for consumers.

What to do next

Review contractual agreements with venues and artists for anticompetitive clauses.
Assess ticketing fee structures for potential consumer harm and compliance with antitrust laws.
Monitor ongoing litigation and potential industry-wide changes resulting from the case.

Penalties

The lawsuit seeks financial compensation for California and fans who were overcharged, and potentially requires divestiture of Ticketmaster.

Source document (simplified)

Ahead of Trial, Attorney General Bonta Lays Out Case Against Live Nation, Ticketmaster Over Unlawful Use of Anticompetitive Agreements Harming Fans, Venues, and Artists Nationwide

Press Release
Ahead of Trial, Attorney General Bonta Lays Out Case Against… Saturday, February 28, 2026 Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov Lawsuit seeks to restore competition for concert ticketing and promotions and secure financial compensation for fans who were overcharged by Live Nation

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement ahead of the start of California’s trial against Live Nation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. In 2024, Attorney General Bonta, the U.S. Department of Justice (U.S. DOJ), and a bipartisan coalition of 30 attorneys general filed a lawsuit against Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, alleging unlawful conduct that has hampered competition for ticketing and promotions of live music concerts. The lawsuit alleges Live Nation’s strong domination over ticketing and concert amphitheater markets has allowed it to engage in a wide variety of anticompetitive behaviors that have harmed artists, their fans, and the venues that support them.

“Live Nation has manipulated the market and made itself untouchable by any competitor — not because it is better, but because it has created a monopoly. This is illegal, plain and simple, and artists, their fans, and the live venues that support them are hurting as a result. In 2024, California, U.S. DOJ, and states across the nation filed a lawsuit calling out these egregious acts, and this week marks the start of our trial to hold Live Nation accountable,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Live Nation harms fans through higher fees and a, frankly, terrible ticketing experience and threatens venues with loss of access to tours and artists if they don’t enter into long and exclusive agreements with the company. Add this all up and what do we get? Bad service, bad experiences, and higher ticket prices, all while Live Nation rakes in the cash. We look forward to proving our case and holding Live Nation accountable.”

BACKGROUND

The 2024 lawsuit alleges Live Nation violated Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act, which prohibit anticompetitive agreements and monopolization. Monopolization offenses occur when a single firm maintains a monopoly unlawfully, by using its control of the market to exclude rivals and harm competition. In addition, the complaint alleges violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law. In the lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta, U.S. DOJ, and the multistate coalition allege that Live Nation has:

Harmed fans through higher fees. Fans’ ticketing experience — from buying a ticket to showtime — is also worse than it would be if the industry was competitive.
Maintained its monopoly in ticketing markets by locking up venues through restrictive long-term, exclusive agreements and threats that venues will lose access to Live Nation-controlled tours and artists if they sign with a rival ticketer.
Leveraged its extensive network of major concert amphitheaters to force artists to select Live Nation as their promoter instead of its rivals, harming competition for concert promotions. The lawsuit asks the court to restore competition in the live entertainment industry by prohibiting Live Nation from engaging in its anticompetitive practices, ordering Live Nation to divest Ticketmaster, and securing financial compensation for California, as well as for fans who were overcharged by Live Nation, leading them to pay more than they would have in a competitive market for tickets.

WHY ANTITRUST MATTERS

Antitrust enforcement is an essential component of a healthy economy. Competitive marketplaces established through antitrust vigilance help consumers by ensuring fair prices for goods and services, an array of products to choose from, quality goods and services, and the steady introduction of innovative new products. As part of the Attorney General’s commitment to enforce antitrust laws, the California Department of Justice has launched an Antitrust Complaint Form for people to report anticompetitive conduct that potentially violates the antitrust laws.