State AGs Continue Antitrust Lawsuit Against Live Nation/Ticketmaster

CA Attorney General Press Releases

Filed March 9th, 2026

Detected March 9th, 2026

Summary

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 26 other state attorneys general announced they will continue their antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation/Ticketmaster, rejecting the U.S. DOJ's settlement. The states aim to hold the company accountable for anticompetitive conduct harming consumers and the live music industry.

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What changed

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with attorneys general from 26 other states, has declared their intention to proceed with the landmark antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation/Ticketmaster. This decision comes after the U.S. Department of Justice settled the case, which the states are now challenging by seeking a mistrial to ensure a fair trial. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2024, alleges that Live Nation's dominance in ticketing and concert venues has led to anticompetitive practices that harm artists, fans, and venues.

Regulated entities, particularly those in the live entertainment and ticketing sectors, should be aware that this significant antitrust case is proceeding independently of the DOJ settlement. The states are committed to holding Live Nation accountable for alleged monopolistic behavior. While no specific compliance deadline is mentioned, the ongoing trial and the states' determination suggest continued scrutiny of Live Nation's business practices and potential implications for market competition in the live music industry.

What to do next

Monitor developments in the ongoing antitrust litigation against Live Nation/Ticketmaster.
Assess internal business practices for potential anticompetitive conduct, especially in markets with dominant players.
Review contractual agreements related to ticketing and venue operations for compliance with antitrust laws.

Source document (simplified)

Attorney General Bonta and State Attorneys General Carry on the Fight Against Live Nation/Ticketmaster

Press Release
Attorney General Bonta and State Attorneys General Carry on … Monday, March 9, 2026 Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov Vow to protect consumers, businesses, and artists nationwide

NEW YORK — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and a bipartisan group of attorneys general today announced their intent to continue with the landmark antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation/Ticketmaster, rejecting the U.S. Department of Justice (U.S. DOJ) settlement of the case days into the much-awaited trial. The states plan to continue the fight to hold the concert giant accountable for harming consumers and the live music industry though its anticompetitive conduct. In 2024, Attorney General Bonta, U.S. DOJ, and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general filed a lawsuit against Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, alleging its 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. The trial in this case started on February 28, and following U.S. DOJ's settlement announcement today, the coalition asked the Court to declare a mistrial to ensure the states and our residents get a fair trial to hold Live Nation accountable.

“Today, U.S. DOJ has chosen to settle with Live Nation, but a bipartisan group of attorneys general, including California, have chosen to continue this fight and get a better deal for consumers — the deal Americans nationwide deserve,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Just in the first week of trial, we’ve already heard that Live Nation fully intended to take advantage of fans — and were able to do so because fans had no other place to go. Live Nation has manipulated the market, made itself untouchable by any competitor, and raked in the cash — not because it is better, but because it has acted illegally and created a monopoly."

Attorney General Bonta will never step away from California’s responsibility to look out for people’s economic wellbeing. Allowing big corporations to raise prices and push competitors out of the marketplace with impunity will only worsen the affordability crisis felt by Americans. From President Trump’s efforts to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, to instituting tariffs that have raised prices on nearly everything, to firing the head of the federal DOJ’s antitrust office tasked with protecting fairness in the marketplace, and now abandoning this lawsuit, it’s abundantly clear: The President is more concerned with protecting corporate interests than making life affordable for American families.

Joining Attorney General Bonta in continuing the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia.