‘That’s a drop in the bucket’: Oregon vows to continue fighting Live Nation after DOJ settlement

Written by Katherine Cook & KGW:

PORTLAND, Oregon — After a yearslong federal lawsuit, the Department of Justice has reached a settlement with Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation. Federal officials sued the live entertainment giant two years ago, alleging it held a monopoly over the live entertainment industry.

But some states, including Oregon and Washington, said they will continue fighting the company in court, noting the settlement was not only unexpected but also does not go far enough to protect consumers. “For too long, Live Nation has used a monopoly to drive up ticket prices, squeeze out competition and make it harder for everyday Oregonians to see the artists they love,” Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a statement. “Oregonians deserve a fair marketplace. We will continue to support the coalition of states committed to holding Live Nation accountable, protecting consumers and restoring real competition to the music industry.”

When the DOJ, under the Biden administration, filed the antitrust lawsuit in 2024, officials said they hoped to restore competition to the market, in part by separating Live Nation from Ticketmaster.

“Live Nation often sacrifices profits it could earn as a venue owner by letting its venues sit empty,” then-U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said at the time. “Rather than opening them to artists who do not use Live Nation promotion services, even during peak concert season.”

Under the proposed settlement, Live Nation would divest from at least 13 amphitheaters nationwide. The company would also have to allow a mix of ticket vendors at some venues and pay a $280 million fine. For a company that reported about $25 billion in sales in 2025, some critics say that amount is too small.

“That’s a drop in the bucket,” said Portland attorney Robert Parker Jr.

Parker filed his own lawsuit against Live Nation in 2023 on behalf of his client, We Are Live Entertainment, but withdrew the suit after federal officials filed their case several months later. He said Live Nation cost his client’s artists millions of dollars and argued that states that recently settled with the company handed the ticket giant a win.

“What should have probably happened in terms of divestiture was clearly not significant enough,” Parker said. “Maybe the remaining states that are not signing off will be able to extract some further concessions in their particular geographical regions of the country.”