Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha today joined the US Department of Justice and 29 other states in filing an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment, which also owns Ticketmaster. The lawsuit alleges that Live Nation has been using its monopoly power in the live entertainment industry to overcharge concertgoers and artists.
The lawsuit states that Live Nation has locked up venues through long-term and exclusive agreements, and threats that venues will lose access to certain tours and artists if they sign with a rival ticketer.
The lawsuit alleges that Live Nation has used its market power to force artists to select it as a promoter, which has led to higher fees for fans and a lack of transparency for artists.
The lawsuit seeks to restore competition in the live entertainment industry, and also seeks financial compensation for the state of Rhode Island and fans who have been overcharged by Live Nation.
“Creative arts are part of the core of Rhode Island’s identity and one of the backbones of our economy,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Neronha. “It is one of my Office’s priorities to ensure our local economy is fair for our consumers, workers, and small businesses, and no place is that more important than in our marketplace for culture and live music.”
Live Nation/Ticketmaster has a substantial presence in Rhode Island. Live Nation’s subsidiary R.I. Waterfront Enterprises LLC is constructing the East Providence Bold Point Park amphitheater, previously scheduled to open this year. Live Nation also handles ticketing for the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, the Bally’s Event Center in Lincoln, as well as Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium and the Xfinity Center in Mansfield.
The case is being investigated by the US District Court for Southern District of New York.
The Rhode Island Department of Justice has a history of taking action against unfair consumer practices in the ticketing industry. In 2019, the Rhode Island Attorney General took action under the State’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act to combat speculative tickets to the musical Hamilton.
The case is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Stephen Provazza and Special Assistant Attorneys General Alex Carnevale and Paul Meosky of the Office’s Consumer and Economic Justice Unit.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.