TRENTON—New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced Monday that the state will continue its antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment and Ticketmaster despite a settlement reached by the U.S. Department of Justice. The decision places New Jersey among 27 states and the District of Columbia that are proceeding with litigation independently after rejecting the DOJ's settlement terms announced March 9.
Davenport said the federal agreement "does not adequately remedy the harms to the marketplace for live music and to concertgoers" in a statement issued Monday. "The case against Live Nation is strong, and the state coalition is committed to holding the company accountable for its illegal behavior, protecting consumers, and restoring competition to this market," Davenport said.
The DOJ announced the settlement March 9 during an active federal antitrust trial in Manhattan federal court, prompting sharp criticism from Judge Arun Subramanian. Judge Subramanian called the timing "outrageous" and "entirely unacceptable," stating it showed "absolute disrespect for the court, for the jury, for this entire process."
The trial began March 2 with jury selection and opening statements, and the settlement was announced while a witness was mid-testimony. Live Nation had sent settlement terms to the DOJ in October 2025, with states notified January 29, 2026, and receiving proposed terms March 3—one day after the trial began.
Federal prosecutors gave states less than 48 hours, until March 6, to decide whether to join the settlement. The 27 states filed an emergency motion for a mistrial on March 9 to halt proceedings.
Under the federal settlement terms, Live Nation agreed to pay $280 million to establish a fund for states' damages claims. The company will divest 13 exclusive booking agreements with amphitheaters nationwide. Live Nation also agreed to cap service fees at 15 percent for tickets sold at amphitheaters it owns or operates.
Up to 50 percent of tickets at Live Nation amphitheaters must be made available through competing ticketing marketplaces under the agreement. The settlement includes an eight-year extension of a consent decree with the DOJ incorporating retaliation and conditioning provisions. Live Nation did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement. The company also avoided a structural breakup that would have separated Ticketmaster from Live Nation.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, leading the state coalition, said the settlement "fails to address the monopoly at the center of this case." Stephen Parker, executive director of the National Independent Venue Association, said the $280 million fine equals approximately four days of Live Nation's 2025 revenue. Parker described the settlement as a "failure of the justice system" in a statement Monday.
Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino characterized the settlement as a "major step in improving the concert experience" and a "win-win for everybody." The original lawsuit, filed by the DOJ and a bipartisan coalition of states in May 2024, alleged that Live Nation used "unlawful, anticompetitive conduct to exercise its monopolistic control over the live events industry." The complaint accused the company of threats and retaliation to "suffocate competition" in the ticketing and live events market.
Live Nation controls approximately 70 percent of major concert venue ticketing in the United States. The company owns or operates 150 venues nationwide and directly manages more than 400 artists. Live Nation reported $23.16 billion in revenue for 2024.
In New Jersey, Live Nation operates PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel and Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden. Both venues are state-owned properties operated by Live Nation under contract with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and New Jersey Economic Development Authority, respectively.
PNC Bank Arts Center has served as a major summer concert destination in Monmouth County for decades. Freedom Mortgage Pavilion sits on the Camden waterfront along the Delaware River.
Live Nation also works with subsidiary companies to promote and manage tickets for Prudential Center and NJPAC in Newark. The company promotes events at the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center in Edison, Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank and Stone Pony in Asbury Park.
The 15 percent service fee cap applies only to amphitheaters owned or operated by Live Nation, not to all venues using Ticketmaster services. This limitation means concertgoers purchasing tickets for shows at venues not owned or operated by Live Nation will not benefit from the cap.
Judge Subramanian had not ruled on the states' mistrial motion as of Monday evening. The trial is expected to resume the week of March 16, with the states proceeding independently of federal prosecutors.
The DOJ settlement requires court approval before taking effect. The federal court must evaluate whether the settlement serves the public interest under the Tunney Act before granting final approval.
Live Nation's 2010 merger with Ticketmaster originally required a consent decree that was set to expire before this litigation began. The current settlement extends that oversight mechanism for an additional eight years rather than mandating corporate restructuring. Consumer advocates have criticized the settlement for lacking structural remedies that would permanently separate the ticketing and venue operations.
Davenport's statement suggests New Jersey seeks more substantial reforms than financial penalties alone. The continued litigation could result in injunctive relief forcing Live Nation to alter business practices beyond the settlement's requirements. Injunctive relief could include forced divestiture of specific venue operations or ticketing contracts deemed anticompetitive.
SOURCE LIST
Reporting based on statements and documents from the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, the U.S. Department of Justice, and court proceedings in the Southern District of New York.
Asbury Park Press. "NJ will continue antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation despite DOJ settlement." March 10, 2026.
NJ.com. "DOJ settlement 'does not adequately remedy' Ticketmaster's conduct, NJ AG says." March 10, 2026.
PBS NewsHour. "Live Nation reaches settlement with DOJ over antitrust allegations." March 10, 2026.
Live Nation Entertainment. Press Release: "Live Nation and U.S. Department of Justice Reach Settlement." March 9, 2026.
NorthJersey.com. "Live Nation settlement won't stop NJ from suing over Ticketmaster fees." March 10, 2026.
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