Ticketmaster, known as the world’s largest ticket marketplace and a leader in live event ticketing products and services, has been under scrutiny for its alleged monopolistic practices in both the United States and Mexico. Owned by Live Nation Entertainment, the company operates in over 30 countries, including Mexico, where it has faced antitrust investigations.
In the U.S., Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, controls a significant portion of the live concert industry, with ownership of numerous concert venues and Ticketmaster itself. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in 2024 accusing Live Nation-Ticketmaster of monopolizing the market by engaging in anti-competitive practices. The DOJ alleges that Live Nation’s dominance in concert promotions and ticketing services limits competition and leads to higher prices for consumers.
The lawsuit outlines various practices that support Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s monopoly, including collusive partnerships with competitors, threats to venues that opt for alternative ticketing services, and exclusive agreements that cover a significant portion of concert ticket sales. The DOJ’s goal is to break up Live Nation and Ticketmaster to promote competition and lower ticket prices for consumers.
In Mexico, Ticketmaster operates under a co-investment agreement with CIE Group to sell tickets for events across Latin America. In 2015, the Mexican antitrust agency, COFECE, launched an investigation into Ticketmaster Mexico and Grupo CIE for exclusive dealing practices in the live show industry. The investigation found evidence of exclusivity agreements between Ticketmaster and venues or promoters, which could dominate the ticketing market.
To settle the case, Grupo CIE agreed to eliminate exclusive dealing clauses from contracts and refrain from including them in future agreements. The focus was on preventing anti-competitive effects in the ticketing market, rather than addressing CIE’s market power in event promotion. Subsequent actions by COFECE, including a fine for non-compliance, reflect ongoing efforts to monitor Ticketmaster’s activities and promote competition.
The antitrust cases in the U.S. and Mexico raise questions about Ticketmaster’s dominance in the live concert industry and its impact on ticket prices and innovation. The DOJ’s challenge to Live Nation-Ticketmaster goes beyond exclusive dealing practices to target vertical integration and alleged anti-competitive behaviors that limit competition. In contrast, the Mexican case primarily addressed exclusive dealing agreements and did not assess CIE’s market power in event promotion.
Overall, the outcomes of these antitrust cases will have significant implications for the live concert industry, affecting ticket prices, competition, and innovation. As the legal battles continue, the focus remains on promoting a competitive marketplace that benefits consumers and ensures fair practices within the ticketing industry.