Millions of customers from Ticketmaster are poised to advance with an antitrust class action lawsuit against the ticketing behemoth and its parent company, Live Nation. During a recent hearing, U.S. District Judge George Wu reviewed the motion for class certification, leaving the decision pending.
The consumer lawsuit, initially filed in January 2022, seeks monetary damages on behalf of millions of ticket buyers, both original purchasers and those who buy resale tickets. It argues that Live Nation and Ticketmaster have established a dominant position in the ticketing market, resulting in inflated prices. Previous court findings have indicated that the allegations concerning monopolistic practices hold merit. According to the plaintiffs, Ticketmaster controls approximately 60% of a particular submarket within the industry.
In parallel developments, earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court opted not to hear an appeal from Live Nation Entertainment regarding its controversial arbitration clause. This ruling leaves both the concert industry titan and its Ticketmaster subsidiary subject to the consumer antitrust lawsuit in federal court. Live Nation characterized its arbitration framework—intended to channel numerous consumer complaints away from litigation—as being safeguarded by the Federal Arbitration Act. However, the Supreme Court’s decision upheld a Ninth Circuit ruling that deemed the company’s prior arbitration terms “unconscionable” and invalid under California law.
In addition to the class action, Live Nation and Ticketmaster are contending with a separate antitrust lawsuit brought forth by the U.S. Department of Justice alongside 39 states. Earlier rulings by Judge Wu have denied Live Nation’s attempts to delay the class action until after the government’s case, which is slated for trial beginning in March next year and aims to disrupt the operations of the two companies.
