Live Nation & Ticketmaster Face Another Antitrust Lawsuit, This Time From a Failed Ticket Startup
A new antitrust lawsuit alleges Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s monopoly forced ticketing startup Fanimal out of business.Summary
Live Nation and Ticketmaster are facing yet another antitrust lawsuit, this time filed by Fanimal, a ticketing platform that shut down in 2024 after struggling to compete. The complaint, filed December 30th, mirrors allegations in a Department of Justice suit and consumer class actions, claiming Live Nation uses its control over concert promotion to force venues into exclusive contracts with Ticketmaster. Fanimal, founded in 2018, had a growing user base and a projected valuation exceeding $100 million, but it was unable to secure opportunities to ticket major venues due to Ticketmaster’s exclusivity agreements, ultimately leading to its sale to TickPick for a “modest amount.” Fanimal is now seeking to recover its financial losses. Live Nation and Ticketmaster have denied monopolistic practices, maintaining that competition in the live events industry has increased since their 2010 merger. The DOJ case is scheduled for trial in May, and other class action suits, including one from Taylor Swift fans, are also progressing.
(Source：Billboard)