Arizona AG rejects Ticketmaster settlement, vows to continue legal battle

PHOENIX — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes plans to continue the legal battle against Ticketmaster after the Justice Department announced a settlement in its antitrust lawsuit against it and its parent company Live Nation Entertainment on Monday.

Despite the Justice Department touting the tentative settlement as a victory that would end an illegal monopoly over live events in America, Mayes felt differently about the agreement.

“The settlement recently announced by the federal government does not adequately remedy the harm done to Arizona consumers and the live music marketplace,” Mayes said in a press release.

According to the Associated Press, a “term sheet” detailing the agreement said that Live Nation agreed to let venues reach deals that would allow a certain portion of tickets to be sold by entities other than Ticketmaster.  It would also let 50% of all tickets be sold through any ticketing marketplace at amphitheaters that Live Nation owns, operates or controls.

In addition, Ticketmaster would need to cap its service fees at those amphitheaters at 15% as well as divest ownership or control of 13 amphitheaters across the country, none of which are in the Grand Canyon State.

Live Nation would also create a $280 million settlement fund to settle claims or pay civil penalties to states.

The settlement would allow for continuing oversight over Live Nation as it includes an eight-year extension of the company’s consent decree with the Justice Department.

Arizona AG calls case against Ticketmaster ‘strong’

Mayes emphasized that she is committed to seeing the lawsuit against Ticketmaster through.

“For too long, Ticketmaster has extracted billions of dollars from a rigged system — one that has made it harder for fans to see artists they love and driven up ticket prices for Arizona concertgoers,” Mayes said.

Manhattan Judge Arun Subramanian also criticized the deal due to no one making him aware of the negotiations until late Sunday and called it “entirely unacceptable,” the Associated Press noted that the term sheet was signed Thursday.

“Arizona is prepared to continue litigating this case alongside our bipartisan coalition of attorneys general to hold Ticketmaster accountable in court and secure real relief for music fans,” Mayes said.

According to the mistrial motion that was filed, 26 states will be joining Mayes in continuing the antitrust case against Ticketmaster and Live Nation.

“I will not stop fighting illegal monopolies that hurt Arizonans,” Mayes said. “My office will keep pushing until we restore competition and fairness to the live music industry.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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