State Attorneys General Step Up Antitrust Enforcement as Trump Administration Scales Back Federal Action
More than 30 states are seeking major structural changes to Live Nation after a federal antitrust settlement failed to resolve concerns about the company’s dominance in concert ticketing. The Justice Department had reached an agreement with Live Nation just as a long-awaited antitrust trial was set to begin, and in the process pushed Republican state attorneys general to support the deal. According to people familiar with the matter, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi told some GOP officials that the settlement was personal to President Trump.
Many states viewed the federal deal as too weak to restore competition in the ticketing market. They chose to continue litigating even after the federal government stepped aside, and their decision paid off. In April, a jury found Live Nation had engaged in illegal monopolization.
On Thursday, the states asked a judge to impose sweeping remedies on the company. Their proposals include forcing Live Nation to sell Ticketmaster, its dominant ticketing subsidiary, and divest some of the amphitheaters it uses to serve major summer tours and large-scale concerts. The states argue that only structural changes can reduce Live Nation’s market power and open the industry to more competition.
The case reflects broader frustration over rising concert ticket prices, limited consumer choice, and the influence of large entertainment companies over live events. Live Nation has long faced criticism from artists, fans, and lawmakers who say its control over ticketing, promotion, and venues gives it too much leverage in the market. Supporters of tougher antitrust enforcement say the verdict validates claims that the company’s reach has harmed competition.
The states’ new request marks the next major stage in the fight over how to regulate one of the most powerful companies in live entertainment. The judge will now consider whether the company should be required to make significant asset sales and other changes intended to weaken its hold on the industry. If granted, the remedies could reshape how tickets are sold, how tours are booked, and how concerts are promoted across the United States.
The outcome could have major implications not only for Live Nation and Ticketmaster, but also for the broader live-events business, which has become increasingly concentrated in recent years. The states say their goal is to create a more competitive marketplace for fans, artists, and venue operators.
