A federal judge Tuesday approved a modification and extension of the 2010 consent decree regarding Beverly Hills-based Live Nation’s merger with Ticketmaster, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
The final judgment, entered in Washington, D.C., prohibits music promotions company Live Nation from retaliating against venues for using a ticketing firm other than Ticketmaster, threatening concert venues or undertaking other actions against venues for 10 years.
“Live Nation broke the promises they made to the court and the American people when they merged with Ticketmaster in 2010,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the DOJ’s antitrust division. “The amended decree reimburses the American people millions of dollars and makes it easier for the antitrust division and state enforcers to identify and prosecute future transgressions.”
Despite prohibitions, Live Nation repeatedly, and over the course of several years, engaged in conduct that violated the consent decree, according to the DOJ.
To put a stop to that conduct and remove any doubt about the music promoters’ obligations, the DOJ and Live Nation agreed to modify the consent decree to make clear that such conduct is prohibited, according to the DOJ.
The extension of the consent decree by 5 1/2 years will allow concert venues and concertgoers to get the benefit of the relief that federal prosecutors bargained for in the original settlement, the DOJ said.
The modifications will also help deter additional violations and allow for easier detection and enforcement if future violations occur, according to the DOJ.