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The U.S. Department of Justice today filed an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment, the global live entertainment company behind Ticketmaster. The suit accuses Live Nation of abusing its dominant market position.

The suit focuses on Live Nation's 2010 acquisition of Ticketmaster. The ministry alleges that this acquisition gave Live Nation unprecedented power over the primary ticket sales market in the United States. As a result, according to the suit, the company made it harder for competitors to enter the market and forced artists to work exclusively with Ticketmaster, leading to higher ticket prices for consumers.

The suit demands several steps from Live Nation, including:

  • Sale of Ticketmaster: Live Nation must divest Ticketmaster as a separate company.
  • Bans on anti-competitive behavior: Live Nation must no longer enter into contracts with artists or venues that prohibit them from working with other ticket sellers.
  • Restrictions on dynamic pricing: Live Nation may no longer use dynamic pricing, where ticket prices can be changed in real time based on supply and demand.

Importance for Belgium:

Live Nation is also a major player in the Belgian live music market. The company organizes hundreds of concerts and festivals in Belgium each year, and Ticketmaster is the exclusive ticket seller for most of these events. The U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit may have implications for the Belgian market, particularly if it leads to Ticketmaster's separation from Live Nation.

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